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​​Human/Nature


“The earth is not just the environment. The earth is us.
​Everything depends on whether we have this insight or not.”
 


Thich Nhat Hanh, Love Letter to the Earth



​Six of the Human Forest sculptures are currently on display at the new Carcross/Tagish First Nation
Learning Centre in Carcross, Yukon
​Introduction

​As a child in the early 70’s I watched smoke spew from the stacks of industries along the St. Marys River in Sault Ste Marie. If we knew that pollution was bad, why, I worried, was it still allowed to flow unimpeded into the sky?
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This body of work explores a perplexing and troublesome question that I continue to ponder:  why do we seem unable to stop ourselves from destroying Earth? Why do we treat Nature so poorly?
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Like a clearing in a forest that grows so large that its centre retains no trace or memory of its former condition, I wonder if we too have lost sight of our origins. ​Over time have we forgotten, or more profoundly, do we no longer believe that we too are Nature?
Picture
Apeiron (the infinite)
​80 x 108"

We are stardust. Everything that is needed to make up you and I and everything on Earth was created in space through the life-cycle of the stars. Chemical elements are the building blocks of everything. They are recycled over and over so that every atom in our bodies was once a part of something else: a river, a rock, a prehistoric animal, an ancient tree.

Man  Was  a Fish 
​80 x 108"
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All life on Earth emerged from the amniotic waters of ancient seas. The structures of our bodies still retain vestiges of our watery past, but what about our memory? Do traces of our early selves also reside in a collective unconscious? 
Of  the Earth II
80 x 108"
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Our mobility gives us a false sense of independence. We move around, fly across the world, launch into space. But in reality we are no less bound to Earth than the trees rooted in her soil. Our survival is inextricably linked to that of our World. We too are “of the earth”.
Weight of the World  80 x 108"

Like we humans, the diversity of life on Earth are sentient beings: animals fiercely protect their offspring, trees warn each other about insect attacks, plants breathe air and ‘hear’ water. Some rivers have now been accorded the legal status of a living human being. Polluting or damaging the rivers is legally equivalent to harming a person.
Violations we commit against Nature are violations committed against our children, grandchildren, and all future generations. How are we okay with this? 
Mother Earth Madonna
80  x  108"

The mother-child bond transcends cultures and time.
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If we could remember that the ocean was our mother, would we still throw garbage into her? 

Of the Earth I
32  x  44"
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We see ourselves reflected in the natural world around us. The growth pattern of a tree is strikingly similar to that of the human lung; hence the lungs of the world mirror our own.


Human Forest
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The bits of driftwood I collected along our Yukon shores resemble human bones, tendons and muscles; the waves that deposited them a reflection of our own evolution, to move and dance upon this Earth.
watch slide show below

​photo credits: @Jake Paleczny  Photography, Joel Krahn,  Derek  Parker, others.
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet”.
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Thich Nhat Hanh
    Gallery  Guest Book

    ​Thank you for visiting the virtual Human/Nature exhibition.
    ​I welcome any comments you wish to offer.

    ​Suzanne

    Please leave me your email if you would like a reply  or  notices about future events.
    ​ I will not share your email without asking  you first. 
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Guest Comments


"What a STUNNING exhibition and a magical opening night. It was so moving to be a part of it and to see all of those months of work come together in such an incredible way. I hope this show finds a way to tour-- more people need to experience it. It is relevant, direct, fantastical, emotive... It is an entry into a deep and honest, yet welcoming world of self-reflection. Phenomenal art. Well done."   Calla Paleczny, Whitehorse, Yukon, September 2017
 
"You never cease to amaze me! Spectacular, you should be so proud of what you have accomplished and how thought provoking this exhibit is!"   Jane MacDonald, Parry Sound, Ontario, September 2017

"Fantastic! It is so mesmerizing.  It brings tears to my eyes.  A favourite passage of mine is "Your Body Belongs to the Universe", in How to Eat, by Thich Nhat Hanh, that you are not the owner of your body; you are just its manager.  Thank you for enriching our insights, Suzanne, with this profound work."  Deb Mclachlin, London, Ontario, September 2017

​"Your work is profound as is your philosophy of life. I have always felt a special bond with nature. May we humans finally wake up to its beauty and its meaning.....and work to preserve it! Thank you for sharing your exhibit on line. Also, it should travel to cities where people can learn to make these connections."  Maryanne Stryker, Pennsylvania, September 2017

"Your interpretation of human vs nature or human/nature is inspired, thought-provoking, beautiful and dreadful... You are so tremendously gifted and your work is important. The message is deep, but yet, simple...  Thank you Suzanne."  Ann Amendola, Ontario, September  2017

"
Wonderful show Suzanne! It's so interesting to see the sculptures and paintings together. They are so powerful together. Wish I could walk among them."   Chris Mann, Toronto,  Ontario, September 2017

"Suzanne, I am silently in awe!  You express profoundly well my inner being and knowing, our being ONE as the Earth/Cosmic community.  Yesterday, on the plane over the desert through Egypt to South Sudan, mostly I saw the dried patterns of lungs and rivers!  I am convinced that images and symbols touch us underneath the attitudes and myths which themselves shape our thinking and words.  In your expressions, YOU TOUCH THE DEEPEST WAY FORWARD, helping to shape our evolving consciousness and healing.  Your contribution to the 'peace process' is profound!  "  Barbara Paleczny,  South Sudan,  September 2017

"These are very strong works. I like the sculptures a great deal and your use of driftwood to build them. They remind me of Italian Renaissance anatomical figures and/or drawings. The connectedness to earth is right there. I am often uncomfortable though with visual art when it is encumbered by language, description or interpretation.  Your works don't need it to be understood. "   Mary Fox, September  2017

"What a wonderful expression of our humanity and how we humans are apart of the whole of creation. Thus the sacredness of all.  Please continue to educate us."  Eileen Donohoe, September 2017

"Awesome exhibition! Both sculptures and paintings are even more impressive up close. So nice to see the entire show "in situ". Thanks!" George Holborn, Thunder Bay, Ontario, September 2017

"Your work is stunning and thought provoking and  as an ESL teacher I also must say your prose  perfectly complements this heartbreaking reality.  Really all I can conclude with is "wow."  It must be goosebumpish  (I think I have just invented a new adjective) to be in that gallery with your creations."  Diane Walker, Ontario, September  2017

"Wow! Absolutely Astounding! I saw some of the works in progress in early May, but to see them all completed and tied together in Respect of Nature - it' all so powerful - beyond words...Thank you!!!"  Peter Mann,  Mayne Island, B.C., September 2017

"I wish I could save this as there is SO MUCH to see and read over and over!  You just can't take it in  all at once- This is magnificent! Thanks Suzanne. "  Teresa Rowe, September 2017

"Suzanne Paleczny's show at the Yukon Arts Centre was the highlight of my trip to the Yukon. Her technical ability and concept is inspiring and mind blowing. It's such a change from the scene found in Vancouver."  mar1ahlea  on instagram, September 2017

"Suzanne, Your work and vision are absolutely astounding. I am in awe in respect to your inspiration and your implementation. Where do you get it all?  Thanks for putting this all together for we often jaded humans."     Michel Cote, Toronto,  September 2017

"What an incredible exhibit Suzanne. I am glad I was able to see it, at least virtually."  Mark Hillis, Ontario, September 2017

​"Beautiful!  Profound!  Breathtaking!"   Hedy Ganter, Asunción, Paraguay, September 2017    

"In Human/Nature, Suzanne Paleczny has revealed quite marvellously that she possesses the élan vital or creative force of a great artist. So it was with good reason that the Globe and Mail included Human/Nature on its list of outstanding cultural achievements in Canada in 2017, placing Suzanne among Canada’s crème de la crème. Hooray Suzanne!"  Tim Paleczny, Aurora, Ontario, December 2017
Download show catalogue:
human_nature_catalogue_yukon_arts_centre_2017.pdf
File Size: 6041 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

suzannepaleczny@gmail.com
867.336.0885
Whitehorse,  Yukon, Canada
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