Overburden: Stripping Away the Mountains and Its People

My work explores what Wendell Berry calls “the unsettling of America,” namely, the effects, the marks, and the changes that humans make on the land and cultures of a given area. My installations demonstrate my desire to create art that gives viewers time and space to think about the art initiates questions which remind viewers of their importance, their responsibilities, and their place, on earth and in the order of things- the local cultures they share with other creatures. To prepare for each piece, I research the history of thee place to learn how the interaction between the wild and the human has determined the direction and cultural makeup of the local community. This research, or what I call “collaborating with a place” helps me understand what I want to say in my work and what I want to share with my audience.

Shawn Skabelund