Everything is alive

Abstract

"Oka Doner's life's work shines a light on the continuing importance of public art projects and the transformative power of our cosmic, soulful, and enchanting natural world. Michele Oka Doner is one of today's foremost artist-designers, whose prodigious career spans four decades and numerous artistic media--from sculpture and furniture to paintings and jewelry. The common thread running through Oka Doner's oeuvre is her lifelong study and appreciation of the natural world, from which she derives her formal vocabulary. In Everything Is Alive, this vocabulary hones in on magic, cosmic, soul, incantation, relic, enchantment, and transformation, as you are led through the artistic processes behind Oka Doner's most prominent public art installations. From Micco, the monumental rock arch dotted with the native greenery of the Everglades, to Oka Doner's haunting ceramic soul catchers and seemingly ancient sculptures born from clay at the Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory in Munich, to the Miami International Airport where Oka Doner's Sargassum soars overhead and her A Walk on the Beach lies at the feet of the millions of travelers who pass through each year. Four essayists, Judith Thurman, Joseph Giovannini, Cynthia Nadelman, and Gregory Volk, serve as guides through Oka Doner's evolution as an artist and creation of these installations, which are brought to life on the page through stunning photographs, original process sketches and inspirations. Everything Is Alive offers just a glimpse into the full breadth of Oka Doner's works, but most importantly, it shines a light on the continuing importance of public art projects and the worldview that there is beauty to be found in all living things." -- provided by publisher.

Contents

The soul of the matter / by Joseph Giovanni -- Micco -- Shaman's hut -- Soulcatchers and Distraught goddess and her prophecy -- Erda in the china shop / by Cynthia Nadelman -- A sacred grove -- Sargassum / by Gregory Volk -- Ancient arb -- A walk on the beach / by Judith Thurman.