EMILY BIXLER: FLOWERS FOR THE CRONE

1 - 28 August 2024

Flowers for the Crone is an exploration of humanity's relationship with nature, our fragile coexistence, and life's tendency to thrive amidst destruction.

 

Utilizing found, discarded and offcut hardwoods, this work is seen as a collaboration with the wood shapes; directed by the nuances of each particular found piece.

 

Made possible in part by a Make|Learn|Build Grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, this body of work welcomed the element of cast bronze; challenging and enhancing the conversation made between the wooden shapes and their clustered landscapes.

 

The roots for this collection have been long forming and much of the initial inspiration was based on time spent in the wilderness during the pandemic and the ongoing lament of the fires that rage each summer.

 

Gathering information from mycelial formations and the fruiting bodies of its vast network, this work speaks to the fragile yet fierce balance of the forest ecosystem and, drawing parallels to our current human condition, urges reflection on the unseen, underground work that lays the foundation for spontaneous, fruitful, uprisings.

 

Representing characters in a story - separate yet tangled reflections of death, decay, transformation, regeneration and renewal - this work arises from a hope that the darkest times can still hold the dormant seeds for future growth and healing.