Frogs: Invasive Species
Eucalyptus
For the 10 Modern Plaques, I decided that frogs had a strong parallel to invasive species. Frogs are often viewed as revealing the health of the environment. Invasive species cause significant damage to the environment.
From the 100’s if not 1,000’s of invasive species worldwide, I selected only invasive species in California.
There are five letters in the word “frogs” in English. There are also five letters in the Hebrew word for frogs. For this reason, I am making five letters as an interpretation of invasive species. Each letter is a different invasive species in California. Each letter will be a different kind of invasive species including an amphibian, aquatic animal (mussels), plant life (eucalyptus), insects (bark beetle), and mankind.
So far, I have Eucalyptus and Zebra Mussels finished. They turned out amazing with a very three-dimensional interpretation in recycled tin cans. You can see them below.
Below the large images are some of the fabrication shots of the work in progress.
Zebra Mussels
Photo Credit (for above images): Philip Cohen
The Idea Behind Frog: Invasive Species
Frogs was a biblical plague mentioned in the bible. It serves as a metaphor for "Invasive Species," one of the 10 Modern Plagues.
What are the 10 Modern Plagues? I thought about that for years. There are so many issues that come to fore, but I think a modern plague has to be something caused by man. Mankind has repeatedly created problems in eco-systems around the world by introducing invasive species.
There are five letters in the Hebrew word for Frogs. Each letter will be a different kind of invasive species including an amphibian, aquatic animal (mussels), plant life (eucalyptus), insects (bark beetle), and mankind.
Three more letters, three more invasive species to go which include man as an invasive species, pine bark beetle which is destroying the urban, suburban and native forest in California, and frogs.
Five letters in the Hebrew word "Frogs - Invasive Species" in progress. Some of these images (below) are sketches.
Invasive species have been repeatedly introduced both accidentally and on purpose, but by their very nature compete with native plants with serious environmental impact.
Left you can see one of the Hebrew letters for "Invasive Species" in progress with the eucalyptus leaves I made from recycled tin cans. Eucalyptus compete with native species, and create huge fire hazards with the highly flammable leaf debris, bark, and resinous eucalyptus wood.
Using recycled tin cans from consumer products is an apt metaphor for invasive species. Just like invasive species upset a healthy eco-system, an economy dependent on consumer debt and government debt is not a stable financial system.
Another invasive species in California and 20 states in the United States is Zebra Mussels (shown left.) "Zebra mussels are a problem because they filter water, up to a liter per day, to eat the plankton. Since the zebra mussels eat a lot of plankton, they compete with fish for food. They also clog pipes by forming colonies inside of the pipes. Then the water cannot flow through the pipes as easily."
The first letter in the word "frogs" will be covered by frogs, and there are many frogs that are invasive species in California. World wide the Cane Toad is perhaps the most famous invasive species.
Further irony is that "about 40% of amphibians are at risk for extinction, more than any other group of vertebrates."
Frogs are often a first indication of pollution, a proverbial environmental canary in the coal mine for the environment.
Stay tuned for drawings and images of the "Invasive Species" in progress.
Behind the Scenes - Work in Progress
This series shows you progressively closer shots of the letter and the eucalyptus leaves that are being attached to the letter.
Frog-Invasive Species Hebrew letter
Eucalyptus Leaves
Frog-Invasive Species with eucalyptus leaves to be attached
Close-up of the Eucalyptus Leaves. They are really beautiful. Buy a Eucalyptus Leaf brooch to support this artwork.
Below you can see the Zebra Mussels that I made from recycled tin cans.
Zebra Mussels constructed from recycled tin cans for Invasive Species, one of the 10 Modern Plagues. Each Zebras was individually attached.
Below you can see the Zebra Mussels letter in progress.
Close up view of Zebra Mussels Invasive Species in progress.
Close-up view of attaching recycle tin cans zebra mussels to a hebrew letter.