Days before there had been a great northern storm that had threatened snow to sea level. And although the flurries never made it- there was evidence of the gale winds. The beach was “blown-out,” meaning when a storm passes with mostly wind the sand blows over the big pieces of plastic – challenging our hunting gathering skills. Sometimes only a thin knife edge of a large piece is visible.
Since there was not much plastic where the trail meets the beach, we stretch it out, walk quickly all the way north to the end- the full 1,000 yards - then meander back.
Early on, in the art-making part of our journey together, we decided to join forces as One Beach Plastic and only exhibit artworks that we completely agreed upon.
At that time (in 1999) each of us already had 25+ years in the studio as solitary artists. When Judith presented the trophy-like sculpture of the toy plastic knife on a pedestal of stacked plastic lids, Richard added the butterfly as an expression of how it feels to be in collaboration with someone you love. For Judith it represents the edgy dance of two strong egos at work balancing the delicate negotiations of working together.
All of the plastic pieces were found on Kehoe Beach. We call it “Collaboration."
Our commitment to this union of strength and sensitivity has served us well. With years as collaborators, there is still plenty of wrangling, but we still agree that we need both the edge of knife and the thrill of the butterfly to inspire our creativity.
Today, eleven years later we find another knife; this time the fantasy has gone from pirate to commando. A plastic commando knife. Hmmm we need something else. Stay tuned.
We do gather three bags full of plastic, but distraction rules on a day so clear and a low tide to boot. Mussels (dipped in butter) for the party after the panel. At home the knife has gone to butter- hummmm from butterfly knife to butter knife- what’s the meaning in that message?
