Petrified Wood

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Earth Measure

Lithostill at Maker’s Mark Distillery

Presence

 

Cast Aluminum, Paint.
7′ 3″ h 32″ w 6″ d. 2009
Northwest corner of 4th and Market Street,
Louisville, KY.

The two sets of information or plaques are, one; “Presence,” the namesake and a graphic diagram of a twenty-four hour metaphoric clock of planet earth, and two; “Pangaea: A Study of Change,” twelve paleogeographic maps of the break-up of the earth’s last supercontinent.

Presence, as read from the top of the plaque, depicts the twenty-four hour metaphoric clock of planet earth. The clock depicts a brief synopsis of significant events and developments throughout the approximately 4.6 billion years of the earth’s development. Pertaining to the graphic, 4.6 billion years ago (scientifically expressed as 4.6 Ga) is the time 00:00:00; whereas, “today,” the relative end of that metaphoric day, is noted as 24:00:00. Thus, all the earth’s major events are recorded as if they happened within a twenty-four hour period.1 Elsewhere on the plaque, one should note the bands of radial colors around the clock that correspond to an organism, plant, or animal group identified by the color legend. These bands of color begin at each subject’s earliest stages of development and continue around the clock throughout profound periods of evolutionary and planetary change.

The relative purpose of this clock and the reason for my usage of it is the visual context of time that it creates around the only-recent evolution of Homo sapiens. Noted in the legend as “Hominids” and indicated by a small red mark, Homo sapiens evolved approximately one minute and seventeen seconds before midnight, roughly 200 ka. Hominids evolved into a distinct taxonomic identity approximately 7 Ma. Largely to open discussion about our human context in time and life, this clock metaphor is one particular version of a relatively well-known educational tool used in classrooms throughout the world. My primary manipulations of this clock consist of the insertion of the twenty-four hour Roman numeral clock, color selection, the inclusion of the previous five and current major extinction events, both keys, the word Presence, and the sculptural inclusion of the two brain hemispheres. The inclusion of the brains and the word Presence at the top of this work are meant to usher the conceptual gravity of this metaphor and its past and future implications for the planet and ourselves.

The opposite side of the marker, “Pangaea: A Study of Change,” provides twelve paleogeographic maps of the break up of the earth’s last supercontinent. These maps were modified for production and used with permission by their author paleogeologist Dr. Ronald Blakey of Northern Arizona University. http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/index.html. These graphics begin at approximately the time of the last supercontinent Pangaea, 240 Ma, and highlight major continental drifting up to the point of 20 Ma, when the earth’s continental plates were arranged visually near to where they currently rest. The notable coloring of this plaque distinguishes the landmass (beige) from the oceans (dark blue) and the continental shelf (light blue). Furthermore, above each graphic are the numerical time, the geologic period, and the geologic epoch from the Geologic Time Scale (GTS). (Before the Paleogene Period, “early,” “middle” and “late,” are terms referenced as epochs.)2

The visualization of the supercontinent and subsequent drifting of the earth’s continental plates is intended to provide recognition of the ongoing changing nature of the ground beneath our feet and to affect our concepts of territories and boundaries. The earth is in constant motion as evidenced by the U.S. Geological Society’s records, which state that nearly 500,000 earthquakes occur every year and that the rate of a tectonic plate’s typical movement is relative to that of fingernail growth. The cycle of supercontinent creation and break-up is approximately 250-500 million years as hypothesized from geologic records. Scientists anticipating the convergence of the next supercontinent are already lobbying projections and names, Pangaea Ultima, Pangaea Proxima, and Amasia are a few.

Ultimately, each plaque carries profound significance for humanity and the consideration of the world around us; however, the correlation of time between the two plaques may aid in a more personal sense of discovery. For instance, pertaining to the Presence plaque, this side portrays all of geologic time, but from the formal GTS it only lists the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic Eons and then the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras, the last of which we are living. The twelve paleogeographic maps of Pangaea begin within the Mesozoic Era and continue through to the Cenozoic Era. The hour of Pangaea’s intact state as a supercontinent, according to the metaphoric clock, would be near 23:00:00, the last hour. Furthermore, within this hour there are three major extinction events, two of which are noted before 20 Ma (the last map) and both of which signal a new period in the geologic time scale. The first major extinction (#4) happens between maps two and three at roughly 205 Ma. This paleontological change is noted as the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event and signals the end the Triassic Period and the beginning of the Jurassic Period. This event also distinguishes the Triassic dinosaurs and the Jurassic dinosaurs, which both roamed the planet throughout these sequenced maps until the Cretaceous-Tertiary/Paleogene extinction event 65 Ma (#5). This event not only brought an end to the rule of the dinosaurs but also to the Cretaceous Period.

Lastly, the correlation of the evolution of Homo sapiens and the sixth major extinction event (essentially the supporting evidence for the proposed new human affected epoch in time “Anthropocene”) should sound alarm bells throughout the world. Paleontologist Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin in their 1996 book The Sixth Extinction, state, “Homo sapiens is poised to become the greatest catastrophic agent since a giant asteroid collided with the Earth 65 million years ago, wiping out half the world’s species in a geological instant.” This is essentially stating that since our earliest human endeavors humankind has affected the world around it through exponential growth and resource exploitation causing an unsustainable rate of exchange with the planet and it’s biodiversity. The result of this sustained behavior and human overpopulation is the effect of permanent loss or extinction of species throughout the planet. A 2009 report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) shows that

“869 species are “Extinct” or “Extinct in the Wild” (rising to 1,159 if the 290 “Critically Endangered” species listed as “Possibly Extinct” are included) and at least 16,928 species are threatened with extinction. While these numbers are substantial, they are likely “gross” underestimates since only 2.7 percent of 1.8 million described species have been assessed. Scientists estimate there are 10-100 million species on Earth.” (Read more)

Ultimately, this is our legacy in time. However, beyond this identity and sense of self in the world, it is the profound reality of time, nature, and behavior that inspires my artwork and greatly substantiates my life.

Special thanks to Ken Herndon, Dr. Ronald Blakey, J.C. Speagle of Best Stamp, The Bright Foundry, John Shircliffe, and everyone at Eagle Foundry.

Notes:

1 The citation of years is scientifically represented in units which take the Latin root for year, “annum.”

Gigannum (Ga) = unit of time equal to one billion years ago

Megannum (Ma) = unit of time equal to one million years ago

kiloannum (ka) = unit of time equal to one thousand years ago

This classification of time is the formal replacement for similar forms recognizable by their abbreviations of number years ago. i.e. 2.5 mya = 2.5 million years ago.

2 The GTS from an essentially ultimate to a proximate focus of time and details, proceeds from the “eon” > “era” > “period” > “epoch” > “age” with any finer focus, not on the scale, ranging from “before common era (B.C.E),” to the “common era (C.E.),” and finally to specific years, days, hours, minutes and so on. The divisions of time correlate to major geologic or paleontologic events, such as mass extinctions. For example, time may currently be noted as 2010* within the Holocene Epoch of the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era in the Phanerozoic Eon.

The formal GTS is representative of theoretical time scales, which are constantly being debated and readjusted in the light of new scientific discoveries and fossil data. Also, the United States U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) GTS slightly differs from the rest of the world and the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).

*The epoch, which we are currently within (Holocene), may get an “age” category (none exists) or be outdated entirely by a current debate which may or may not recognize “Anthropocene” as our new human affected age or epoch of the planet.

Works Cited

Annum.” Wikipedia. 20 Jan. 2010.

Blakey, Ronald. Professor Emeritus Northern Arizona University Geology.

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/index.html

DK Publishing. Prehistoric Life: The Definitive Visual History of Life On Earth. London: DK Publishing, 2009.

International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) www.stratigraphy.org.

Leakey, Richard and Roger Lewin. The Sixth Extinction. New York: Doubleday, 1996.

Mongabay.com “869 species extinct, 17,000 threatened with extinction July 02, 2009”

22 Feb. 2010. http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0702-iucn.html.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) www.usgs.gov.

Miniature St. X Tiger Sculptures for sale

Hand sculpted miniature bronze tigers available for purchase

I began working on this miniature sculpture immediately after the large tiger was installed, in 2008. After nearly three months of meticulous laboring over exacting details of the 1000 pound campus tiger, I determined the work to be of high quality and signed the sculpture. From this finished clay model, I then made the mold from which every tiger will be cast in bronze through the Lost Wax Process. This 6500 year old casting process is performed here in Louisville at Falls Art Foundry.  

The final work consists of the bronze tiger mounted to a polished black marble base. The tiger measures approximately 10 inches long and the footprint of the base measures 8.5 inches by 5 inches. Each piece also comes with a certificate of authenticity and a small brass plaque which reads “The St. X Tiger Louisville Kentucky”. The cost of the sculpture work is $1475.00

Thank you for your interest in this project and for the continued support of my work and the Louisville arts community. Miniature tiger sculptures are available at the St. X campus store and directly from my art studio in the Paristown neighborhood of Louisville. 

Sincerely, Matt Weir

class of 1999

To learn more about the Lost Wax Casting Process and Falls Art Foundry please visit www.fallsartfoundry.com.

At Play in Geologic Time

At Play in Geologic Time. Indiana Limestone. 72” h x 60” w x 30” d. Vandalia, Ohio. 2010.

 

At Play in Geologic Time is a sculpture that was created for the Vandalia, Ohio “Chiseled” Public Art sculpture symposium. Weir was competitively selected from around the US to create a monumental sculpture from Indiana Limestone on site. At Play In Geologic Time is a sculptural variation of a photographic print of Weir’s and depicts the human brain in a ‘pixilated’ state. The opposite side of the sculpture presents a theatrical stage. As a cohesive work, the stage and brain carved from the 350 Ma (million year old) sedimentary limestone are meant to invoke the geologic time scale and an evolutionary context whereas human behavior and the brain are as living fossils theatrically at play.

Indiana Limestone.
72” h x 60” w x 30” d.
Vandalia, Ohio. 2010

Visit “Chiseled” event page

X / Y

As Twere a Mirror to Nature

As ‘Twere a Mirror to Nature Polished cast bronze 15” x 20.5” x .75” 2016

 

“As Twere a Mirror to Nature,” is a mirror polished lost wax process cast bronze plaque with the text “natura non facit saltum” embossed into the surface. The Latin phrase “natura non facit saltum” translates as ‘nature makes no leaps’ and is a pre-Darwinian concept for the methodology for evolution. In this case the artwork reflects a much more individual scale of time and change, as it reflects one’s aging identity and the contextual stuff of their lives.

Polished cast bronze
15” x 20.5” x .75”
2016

To see more of Matt Weir’s work