Solar power, steel, rope lights - 10' x 9' x 13' - 2021

Winter is an important time in many polar cultures where light is celebrated in the midst of the darkness and cold of the season. The traditional form of a holiday light display illuminates the relationship between our lifestyles and the systems that support us – in this case the oil and gas extraction that fuels our economy but at the same time is contributing to global warming and the loss of arctic sea ice – essentially the North Pole of legend and reality. The outline of the oil rig is based on a deepwater floating platform design.

Special thank you to Chris Murphy for solar empowerment and to everyone who helped enable and installi: Ray Carruthers, Keith Kaziak, Marc La Pointe, Chris Murphy, Tim O'Neill, Anna Orbovich, Max Rawling, Bill Rice, Fritz Ringler, Will Turnbull, Karin Wolf, UW Madison Sculpture Program (Image Credit: Chris Murphy/ Fritz Ringler )

Winter is Alive! a cooler world carnival

Winter is transformational. In regions of the planet that experience winter, the seasonal experience permeates the habits and habitats of all of its systems and inhabitants. For humans, this includes many cultural activities related to winter, its approach, its fulfillment and its passing.
Winter is often used as a metaphor for death, as there is a sense of cessation and stillness that comes with winter, when animals hibernate and plants store their energy underground or expend their energy as seeds for the coming of spring. Winter cultures often express turning inward through storytelling or focusing on media. In the darkest time of winter, there is a sense of vitality in the quietness and the gathering of energy for new growth, and the return of the light and spring – the promise and the fulfillment of new life.
The spiritual and social rituals of winter are found throughout winter cultures – as expressions of hope as life becomes harder to sustain, as experiences of joy through family and social gatherings and as enlightenment during the darkness of winter.
Winter is Alive! a cooler world carnival is a celebration of winter and the culture of winter, but it is also an allegory – even as we celebrate, we are aware of the hardships that life and lives are facing globally due to the climate crisis. The goal of this project is two-fold to raise awareness about climate change and activate all of us to begin thinking in a new way but also to appreciate what we have – winter.

Artist and Project Director

 

Project supported through a City of Madison Arts Commission Blink Grant