Enviro Drawings
‘Perforations in the atmosphere, be they sound, light, or wind-generated, allow for a steady stream of (atmospheric) sensations that rewire one's connection(s) to the immediate surroundings and the vast ecosystem. Being nowhere on the map might have allowed for being everywhere in this open spatial network, as the incorporation of my fiber constructions began to include the entire fabric of the land, its haunting cholla remains, and a shadow-filled screen of the macro and micro at play.’ – A.D.
I recently revisited this passage from an interview with Landviews journal, and it was a reminder of how past environmental work was very much about site as a network of observations/sensations.
This led me to create a new page on my website called, Enviro Drawings.
The term drawing is used broadly to describe site details that incorporate line or mark making, the layering or interweaving of impermanent and soft materials such as cloth, fiber, or paper, as well as compositions generated by the land or surface of bodies of water (with or without the aid of the artist). This activity is not necessarily a means to create art or environmental art. Instead, it aims to highlight phenomena that are often overlooked or overshadowed by a site’s history or intended use.
The page is still being updated, but it feels timely as I look ahead to projects that further explore a focus on enviro narratives and interpretations or readings of place.
Drawing has always been integral to my practice, although I do not draw in traditional ways or consistently generate works on paper or sketches. I view drawing to be more conceptual as a form of visual communication or put more simply, an action or prompt for venturing into new territory and zones.
A famous quote, that sums up the spirit:
“A drawing is simply a line going for a walk." - Paul Klee
[ all images | Abigail Doan studio ]