Generations
Generations
Scott Pauli
Artist Statement
My drawing has several different meanings to me. In a literal sense it is a representation of 100 years in the life of a red pine. It could be the past 100 years or the next 100 years. Why 100? Because 100 years is the average amount of time that one ton of CO2 released will stay in our atmosphere. CO2 is one of the main contributing factors to global climate change. Why red pine? Red pine is one of the tree species that is threatened by global climate change. Red pines will move north as the annual temperatures in the North woods rise. To me the line that is crossed just North of Wausau in which the trees change from deciduous to conifers is the point when I know I am in the North, and my life can slow down even if just for a weekend getaway. As this line moves further North it will be a clear sign that this now accessible retreat is, well, retreating.
100 years is a long time. Time is something that I learned a lot about with this project. In a short time (3 days) I absorbed a wealth of knowledge about climate change and made connections with a group of amazing artists and scientists. In a long time (50 hours, .5 hours per ring) Sitting over my drafting table, I learned how slowing down paying attention to the task at hand (not multi-tasking) can bring out more than a drawing. As I sat and worked I thought of how every ring affected the next, just like every year effects the next. I realized that the form that was taking place could be seen as many other things than tree rings – a spider’s web, a satellite view of a storm, ice crystal formations, the topographical map of a lake, the overhead view of waves on Lake Superior, a fingerprint. I thought about the words of Frank Montano as we spent our last moments at the retreat together in a circle. He told about the Ojibwe belief in the great powers of the circle in nature. I envision our little group of artists and scientists as the first ring in tree that is growing across the state.. As the exhibit moves and effects more people the circles of influence will grow, in the same way the drawing took shape.
Biography
Scott Pauli lives and works in Madison, WI. As a designer he has worked on environmental advocacy campaigns for Great Lakes Forever, the State Environmental Leadership Program, and Madison Gas and Electric to name a few. As an artist he works in a variety of media including printmaking, drawing, video and installation. As an educator Scott runs the Mess Hall Press, a design and printmaking program for aspiring high school artists and designers. Scott likes to experience the beauty of the North woods through canoeing, fly fishing and most of all surfing the Great Lakes.