Women Mind the Water, An Update for August
Our next podcast will be our 50th! We are grateful to all our past guests for their participation. It’s funny to look back to those earliest podcast. I was so nervous that I only showed the guest in the video versions. Eventually, I allowed my eyes to be in the frame. I lacked confidence early on so I stuck to scripted questions. That has changed. Now, I am fully in the video and have mostly overcome my nerves. I look forward to talking our amazing guests. I feel extraordinarily lucky to have the chance to speak to people across the globe, involved in so many extraordinary practices.
Our latest podcasts were with Colleen Flanigan and Lisa Shaw. Colleen provided video footage of the underwater museum where her Living Sea Sculpture is on display. Colleen used her metalwork skills to create a sculptural frame on which corals are encouraged to grow. Collee is the first artist I've interviewed who took up diving in order to be able to create a piece of art. The metal sculpture she created not only withstands being underwater but also has a utile function, the foundation for a coral reef. Lisa Shaw creates a different kind of living artwork. Hers combines technology, art, and nature. Lisa creates floating ecosystems or islands that are both beautiful and repair degraded waterways. These man-made habitats transform visual eyesores into mini natural areas that also serve to clean waste water. Lisa also is an award-winning painter.
Next up is an interview with Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. Violet is carrying on her father's legacy working to have a section of California's central coast designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. If her efforts are successful the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would be our nation's 17th marine sanctuary and the first Indigenous-led sanctuary. Also scheduled soon is an interview with Danielle Burnside. She is the second Hawaiian artist we’ve featured recently and she like Martina Wing was inspired by manta rays. Danielle will discuss her shell series where she lovingly renders marine animal images inside the shells of abalone and clam. Her work is unusual and engaging.
Check out the news section. We’ve got an update on bird flu. What’s new, not seen before in the U.S., is that bird flu has been found to infect seals. Four cases have been found in Maine. Another startling piece of news is that shark finning is a serious issue in the U.S. Although shark finning is illegal here, the high prices for the shark fins are encouraging criminal activities. In fact, the U.S.ranks fourth largest shark fin exporter in the world.
More news on our live event on Oct 22. A tentative schedule for our I heART Ocean event is now posted on our event page. The afternoon activities will feature ocean-inspired art, interviews with artists, and interactions with various organizations focused on coastal issues. The finale is a premiere collaborative performance by Dale Andree's NWD Project with musical accompaniment by Halcyon, and specially created installations by Women Mind the Water’s Pam Ferris-Olson. Tickets are available throught Eventbrite or by sending a check made out to Sea Meadow Marine Foundation. Mail to Sea Meadow Marine Foundation, c/o Rebecca Rundquist, 123 Even Keel Road, Yarmouth, ME 04096.