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THE WILD AND WONDERFUL
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Sculpture of Larry Ringgold
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Dear Zenith Art Lovers,
Spring planting, Maypoles, flower baskets and Mother Nature. These are some of the things that the month of May brings to mind. I choose to write about Larry Ringgold who uses driftwood to create incredible animals, fish, birds, trees and more. He wanders the shorelines to find limbs downed by storms and other natural causes to create his wood zoo. He embodies mankind’s healthy relationship with Mother Nature on so many levels.
For those of us who love our planet and acknowledge scientific evidence for global warming, I am sure you share my outrage at what “not my president” is attempting to do to this country and earth. Here is a link to an article about one of his latest plans to open all Wildlife Refuges to fishing and hunting. This stretches my ability to understand the level of evil and degradation he has inflicted on our country and world. https://abcnews.go.com/
These actions are a knife in the heart to anyone who understands the consequences of these actions.
What makes artists special, besides their talents and creativity, is how deeply they care, feel, emote and absorb the pain around us. Most artists are soulful and care deeply about other people and our fellow earthly inhabitants.
On the bright side, just as suddenly as it first formed a record-breaking ozone hole has healed. The largest ozone hole to ever open up over the Arctic is now closed, after first opening up earlier this spring. This is encouraging news. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/
This is Mother Nature’s time to heal, and we must listen to her if we are going to survive.
Please meet our artist of the day, Larry Ringgold.
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I was born and raised on the Chesapeake Bay. I grew up crabbing and fishing with local watermen and have always felt a connection to the bay. I have been a Carpentry/Woodworking Teacher and woodworker for over 42 years.The driftwood thing is an endeavor that was made possible by hurricanes and the opening of the Conowingo Dam.
Due to the massive flooding, great amounts of all types of wood drifted down to the Maryland beaches. I have always found driftwood art fascinating and now I have plenty to pick from.
I saw my first driftwood sculptures in California in the 70’s and since then found others online doing magnificent work such a Deborah Butterfield, Matt Torrens and Heather Jansch. I have found their work inspiring but different from my own in design and construction. Larry Ringgold
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“Homage to Vince”
“Peeps the Tree Frog”