||| FROM B.J. ARNOLD for ORCAS ISLAND ARTWORKS |||
The Orcas Island Artworks features “THE KELP SERIES” by Shawna Marie Franklin through the month of December.
Internally motivated by the rapid degradation of the planet and in her life long study of the complexity of the natural world, Shawna’s ongoing projects represent a personal pursuit of bearing witness and practicing empathy towards the non-human world, as well as a re-imagination of our relationship with life on this planet.
“My current body of work, The Kelp Project, is a series of large format paintings and monoprints
depicting life in the water within the kelp forests of the PNW. The central kelp motif represents
the idea of a non-human form within a natural system. An unconventional depiction of space
encourages the viewer to imagine a foreign world from another’s perspective. I often start with
an underdog subject deemed a “service” or a “pest” to society, and then explore an abstracting
viewpoint which draws attention to the intricacy of the ecosystem, the intrinsic beauty of these
uncommon non- human subjects, and the importance of their survival. Kelp seemed a natural
theme as it has been my constant companion for more than 20 years working as a professional
kayaker on the ocean.”
The Artworks is open daily from 10 to 4.
Shawna Franklin! Fantastic work.I love it.
Shawna, I’m delighted to know about this great new step in your work.
And thank you, B.J. for submitting this article to the Orcasonian, together with the lovely photograph of Shawna and this piece from her Kelp Series.
I’m now additionally motivated to go to the Artworks!