portfolios > installations > swarthmore college

Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

"Peaceable Kingdom," an homage to Quaker artist Edward Hicks, depicts the confluence of humanity and nature, calling for peaceful coexistence with the environment. The installation exposes the moving mechanism which gives the work life, but reflects the industrial nature of our society.  The plastic and metal frame surrounding the images of nature highlights the inherent conflict between nature and mankind’s impact upon it. 

“Much of my work is a call to heed the impact we are having on the biosphere.  We cannot help but leave our footprints, but we need to work at minimizing our impact and harmonize our relationship with the Earth.” — Austine

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This work is created using clear, colorless cellulose and polarizing filter.  The color comes from the birefringent nature of the materials.