Earth Works

Rembrandt’s Carcass of Beef was our historical reference for our meat tree. We’re placing it in nature. Rembrandt removed the meat from nature where we would normally expect the cow to be found, and we will be placing it back in nature-back to the beginning of this decline. We’ve become farther removed from the original food. We set out to emphasize in our culture that we have become so desensitized to thinking for ourselves. The more disconnected we are from what is natural, organic, and created reflects how we live in the environment and in community. We had meat hanging from tree resembling fruit, an organic substance. Made a frame of chicken wire, covered it with meat. “Branches” covered the wire used to hang it so that it looks like they’re growing from the tree. By eating from this meat tree they are unaware of what they are actually doing. Reflecting upon our projects I am very pleased with the results. Although it may be argued that the “fruits” do not look enough like meat I think that the mystery adds to the effect that our food has become so processed we hardly know what it is. Furthermore, the original assignment was to do an earthwork, that we successfully accomplished by engaging and interacting with the tree and our meat. The Native American Site doesn’t figure into our project.

I think that the earthworks in general are a very creative and enjoyable project. They require you to think outside the box and engage in nature in a way that we don’t do or appreciate anymore. However, when we were then instructed to make all these changes to our photos it no longer was about the earthwork, but rather it was about digital editing etc. which is exactly the opposite point of what the earthworks are about. Therefore, I think that the earth work and the strangeness are good to a certain extent.