February 3, 2008
At last I present the second issue of theCorporal, issue2: nature.
As before, I gave very little instruction to the contributors of this issue regarding what precisely they should be focusing their artistic energy toward. And as expected, each has run with his or her own concept of "nature." Before we dive into these pieces I want to give a little bit of background regarding my choice of topic for this issue.
After I posted the submission topic for issue2 I had several contributors approach me wanting to discuss their reaction to the topic and their ideas for submissions. I maintained the policy of giving little feedback in an attempt to minimize any influence I may have had over the final products. In listening, though, I did notice something. The contributors each seemed to read the word "nature" on the submission page and immediately begin to conjure up images of nature, the thing. Armed with that picture of nature, the thing, each then began to consider how they might address that thing in their art.
Somewhat in contrast to this, I chose the topic of "nature" rather meaning "Nature." I myself was not focused on any particular version of nature, as a thing, but was actually more concerned with Nature as an idea, even Nature as a word.
I never asked any of the contributors to define "nature" for me, but I ask it of all of you now. What is nature?
When you consider nature, do you imagine only what is seperate from humanity? Do you consider degrees of nature, each distinguished by varying degrees of human influence? It is my impression that such views are somewhat common, and it is this reality that led me to choose Nature as the submission topic for issue2.
I am intrigued by the notion of nature as the world excluding humanity. I quite wonder why or how it is that this idea came to be. What is it about humanity that seems so very distant from what is "natural"? Are we unnatural? Do we rightly consider ourselves separate from the natural world?
I can't say that I have the correct answer to these questions. Personally I find the idea that humanity is separate from nature to be a detriment to us. Perhaps if we could see clear to viewing ourselves as an integral part of our natural environment then we could discover ways to live in harmony with the rest of this nature. By placing ourselves apart from (or even above) nature, we only further the attitudes that allow us to destroy our own environment.
At the same time, my own concept of Nature almost relegates the word into a category of total uselessness. If that which is not human is natural, and that which is human is also natural, then there is nothing unnatural at all. What is derived from humanity is no less a part of nature than the trees or birds, for anything we produce is ultimately a product of our most natural evolution.
This is in fact what I tend to think of when I think of Nature. Nature has become a meaningless word in my vocabulary and whenever I hear another speak it, I can only wonder what they could possibly be referring to. That is the best reason I can give for choosing Nature as the topic for this issue. I hoped that perhaps this group of talented and intelligent artists could help me to discover the meaning of this excruciatingly vague and mysterious concept.
I must say that I am very pleased with the outcome of issue2. I presented this topic with as little guidance as possible because I wanted to see what people truly thought about nature, without allowing them to consider my own motivations for choosing it. What I have been given in return is a diverse set of ideas looking upon nature from a wide variety of vantages. To my delight, many include a close look at humanity, and even from completely unexpected angles. Most importantly, though, this collection has surprised even me with its ability to answer my secretly-intended question. As each artist contributed their own vision of nature, the total collection serves the broader purpose of suggesting a more complete vision of Nature.
I thank all of the contributors for once again pulling together an excellent body of work. I hope you are all as proud as I am to present theCorporal issue2: nature.
page2 - "Stasis Nature" by Matthew Martell
page3 - "Collection" by Meaghan Leonard
page4 - "More Snake Than Butterfly" by Andy Brame
page5 - "the Nature of Politics" by Kevin Harwell
page6 - "Lovely Puppet Murder" by Ben Wolfson
page7 - "A Snow Flake" by Bert Scalia
page8 - "A Dream That I Could Fly" by Dominique Scalia
page9 - "This Missing Symmetry" by Andy Brame