Exhibition: Croatian Iris ( Iris Croatica ) / Flora Exotica Series.
Author: Dodd Holsapple (USA)
Opening: Saturday, September 30th, 6:00 PM
Location: OPG Pueblo Escondido – Lončari 1, Karin Gornji
Artist Dodd Holsapple from Los Angeles (CA), has created an exclusive series of original artworks centered around the Croatian iris, a valuable national plant found in the canyon of the River Bijela.
The Croatian iris is a part of a long-term project called the “Flora Exotica Series” consisting of 30 original artworks. This project is in conjunction with the realization of the art installation “See Glass Again-On Accepting The Undesirable” and project “ItIsNotTooLate”.
The Croatian Iris series simultaneously documents his stay in Croatia as a partof the Pueblo Escondido art residency program – Art for the Environment and Nature,and the production of the public art installation “See Glass Again” which he creates together with the community.
The original hand-painted works on paper represent Dodd’s unique technique and style defined by a highly formalized application of color theory.
All 30 parts of this limited series are authorized and numbered by the author and contain a certificate of authenticity.
All visitors and participants of the program #ItIsNotTooLate River Bijela have the opportunity to see and buy works of art from this exclusive series only during this event. From September 30 to October 8, 2023.
Through this initiative, the author wants to help the further development of the program and organization. In accordance with the inclusive spirit of this community-oriented initiative, by purchasing a work of art you support the activities of the #ItIsNotTooLate initiative.
Interested individuals can contact us via email at: info@morskelivade.com
About the artist:
Dodd Holsapple, visual artist from Los Angeles actively produces unique contemporary visual artwork in a wide range of mediums.
He has worked on innovative and widely popular pieces such as the “Living Sculpture the View Planter Series,” which have been extensively published, exhibited, and featured in a television documentary on contemporary sculpture and architecture.
He has produced several public art installations focused on environmental awareness and notable solo and group exhibitions at Universities, museums and galleries featuring his recognizable style. Holsapple has participated in leadership and environmental based podcasts and showcased a landmark live painting event at Budman Studio, WNDW, Venice California.
Dodd released an innovative NFT series entitled Seeds To Smoke in 2022. Dodd’s works will be showcased when the US Senate convenes later this year during NCA5 conferences decide on climate policies.
About the art installationSEE GRASS AGAIN
On September 8th, Holsapple became the eleventh resident of Lončari, where he is currently working on an art installation. For its creation, he is using glass collected during two volunteer eco-cleaning actions in the canyon of the River Bijela in 2020. and 2022. year.
His work was chosen from a total of 46 applications that arrived from several countries.
The collected glass waste will be used by Holsapple to create a drywall with a mosaic of eels in the shape of a ring that will form a space for sitting, hanging out or talking. His stay at OPG Pueblo Escondido through the residency “Art for the Environment and Nature” will be accompanied by public events and workshops in collaboration with other associations and institutions that will be announced in time.
Dodd’s proposal represents the transformation of glass waste into an observation deck, a landmark in the landscape, and a gathering place with an artistic intervention. This intervention also serves a practical function as a resting area in the form of a bench.
The inspiration for the creation of the circular form comes from ancient historical sources (snake, dragon, lizard), and the proposal emphasizes cyclic energy and symbolic spiritual regeneration, and in this case incorporated into an authentic local context through a circular shape with an illustration of an eel fish species, characteristic of the area Three Seas.
European eel fish is a favorite animal among the locals, who place it into their wells to clean the water.
The locals used to take it in the rainy seasons when it comes out of the sea and moves on the wet grass. They would put it in the rain water tanks to protect their water by eating the pests that would appear in the collected rainwater.
The creation of an art installation is part of the project „#itIsNotTooLate – Seagrass beds: Zostera marina, Zostera noltei and Cymodocea nodosa, their significance for fish life and the overall ecosystem of the three seas area“.
The project was approved through the Three Seas FLAG competition under Measure 2.1. Support for the evaluation, protection and promotion of the natural resource base – rivers, seas and coasts” in order to implement activities removal of waste/pollution located in the watershed, mapping the state of seagrass surfaces and making people aware of their footprint on natural resources with the aim of valorizing and protecting seagrass as a source of marine life and with the aim of raising the quality of life of the fish stock.
The event #itIsNotTooLate River Bijela 2023, taking place from September 16th to October 10th, is supported by the Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
