The term wilding has a great dual meaning. In a natural context, wilding can refer to the process of allowing a piece of land or an area to return to a wild, untamed state. It involves letting nature take its course without human intervention, allowing flora and fauna to grow and thrive freely. Wilding also refers to engaging in unruly, rowdy, or sometimes violent behavior, often in a group or mob setting. Michael Campbell's latest series of work will play with these dual meanings by presenting new works of sculpture and mixed media in a display sure to capture your wildest imagination!
On View: May 11, 2024-June 6, 2024
Opening Reception: May 11, 6-9 PM
Michael Campbell grew up in the Midwest in the 1970's amid the handicraft movement with a home full of macramé, decoupage, and paper-mâché. 1,600 miles away from Haight-Ashbury, he made God's eyes in Cub Scouts and glued macaroni onto wooden crosses in Sunday School. From an early age, handcrafted objects and the divine were connected.
"My work explores our connection to the mysterious fungi kingdom. I’m curious about death and what lies beyond. As decomposers of dead, organic matter, mushrooms are symbols of the imminent life and death process. They release enzymes to feed on dead, organic matter. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition; an organism that cleans and clears away dead matter and an entheogen that, when ingested, brings about transcendent states of consciousness.
I’m interested in our perception of the eternal, the divine and the otherworldly through objects that bring about an alternate mythological narrative spoken through the voice of nature. This narrative suggests, counter to Judeo-Christian teaching, that we are all connected to the natural world and its ecosystem. A new earth-centered liturgy is offered by saintly objects and altars that seem to grow from the forest floor."