Warning-this post includes notes on climate science.
TREES AS ART
TREES AS ART
Cambria artist Bruce Marchese said he was experimenting with an abstract work. Bruce is best known for his rich color and realistic capture of people and scenes so I was intrigued. His vivid abstract piece now hangs at the Art Center. It's a brilliant representation of Eucalyptus bark. I see why he was so captivated.
These Eucalyptus stand in a grove at San Simeon state park. They have competition in the color department though.
This living abstract is the peeling bark of a Madrone.
Hey Bruce, if you have success with the Eucalyptus you might consider the Madrone as your next model!
NEW WORRIES IN CLIMATE CHANGE
This grand citizen of planet earth is one of the largest living things and one of the oldest.
The only place in the world where you find these 2,000 to 3,000 year Sequoias is in the Sierra Nevada. Jim Robbins of the New York Times has published an article linked here that details the concern of biologists that climate change, especially longer or more frequent droughts, may peril the existence of these masters of the mountains.
Sequoias, a type of redwood, have no disease or insect enemies and they can survive fire, but they need water, either in rain or snow melt.
I've pondered if there isn't a message in this for humankind. Could there be something in the bark or essence of the largest and oldest living things on earth that could provide a molecular blessing? Disease free, survive fire? What other living thing has such a resume?
There is something else to these living spires. I am never in a redwood forest or among the Sequoias that I don't sense a palpable spirit. Yes, there are differences on questions of the Divine, spirituality and faith, the degree and nature of climate change, but there can be no dissent on the overwhelming awesomeness of the power and survivability of the big trees. I think of them as the planet's silent sentries. What wisdom do they hold?
See you down the trail.
