During the last year and a half (2020-2021) there has been diminished opportunities for our photographic excursions. Thus, I turned my attention to other art forms, including carving various insects and other wildlife, and when the opportunity arose, I began exploring “steampunk” as a new endeavor. By definition, steampunk is “a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.” Needless to say, as a biologist, I modified the “subgenre” to reflect my lifelong passion for biodiversity, and many of the emerging themes from my work reflect the interaction of nature with our current technological society.
My first try was a panel illustrating the Covid-19 pandemic, but it soon evolved into a bevy of other pieces. What is featured is a sample of a year and a half of seeking found objects and incorporating them into aesthetic art objects.