LIMERENCE

The title reflects my fascination with these elegant, intelligent birds as well as my bewilderment at western society’s willful misinterpretation of their character. It saddens me that crows have been archetypal symbols for evil and death as well as the focus of many superstitions. Ethological studies by John Marzluff, professor of Environmental and Forest Science at UW have proven that crows possess exceptional problem solving skills, using tools as well as trial and error. They are quite adaptable and even capable of recognizing human faces. The most remarkable evidence from Marzluffs studies, in my opinion, is their ability to pass down intergenerational knowledge and even “grudges”.

Art making is my way of focusing on and processing my everyday life. “Limerence” celebrates the majestic beauty, profound intelligence and mystique of the American Crow. This iridescent vision is framed by a dynamic spiral showing both outer space and daytime, bringing to mind both the balance symbol, yin yang, and the concept of “superposition” in quantum mechanics. Superposition is where objects can exist in multiple locations. Just like our evolving understanding of the crow, this seems like some sort of witchcraft at first. It’s a visual double or even triple entendre for the expansive nature of crow’s consciousness and strong connection to the energy that flows throughout the universe and through us all.