Longwalk
24"x22"x4" mixed media sculpture
Longwalk..... Where the Land, the Animals, and the People help each other.
"Longwalk" is a 280 acre plot of land in Nottaway County, Virginia that is owned by Joe Wirt (my father in-law) and has been designated as a Stewardship by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Each year a section of the land is burned to help regenerate growth. Feed plots are planted to give nourishment to the deer and other wild life. Wood Duck houses are built near the swamps and creeks to help foster more birds to find a home. Over the years a number of tree stands and other hunting blinds have been built to harvest deer, keep the deer population healthy, and put food on the tables of the Wirt clan and other friends of Longwalk.
This land is more than just hunting land or uncontaminated natural areas. It is a place of refuge, and a place that brings family and friends together to enjoy the more beautiful and simple things in life.
This land is more than just hunting land or uncontaminated natural areas. It is a place of refuge, and a place that brings family and friends together to enjoy the more beautiful and simple things in life.
Art Work Update
For my final artwork I am creating a mixed media bas relief sculpture that abstractly illustrates my view of, and bond with, the land my family has named "Longwalk" The name came because it was a long walk to get from the road access to the spot for hunting. My art is a combination of the plot of land, images of the land I have taken, colors to represent the different types of trees, water, paths, hunting stands, wood, foam, metal and paint. The final size of the artwork is approximately 22"x24". I am using the images I took to help me with the layout of color, texture, shapes and forms that will be apart of this work. Using the GPS app on my phone, I plotted the locations of all the hunting stands, cat walks, cabin, and feed plots. I've used Google Earth to pin point the stands and help me place them on my final artwork. My final artwork is not a totally literal representation of the land but an exploration of the qualities of the land. Below are some of the images I have gathered to help me in my creative process.