Artistic Interpretations with Margaret - "Queen Bee" Art Project with Toril

Luna and Shaman Rabbit, by Toril Fisher

Welcome to "Artistic Interpretations" with Margaret.  For February's challenge, I introduce you to an artist, farmer, and dear friend, Toril Fisher.

She is currently working on a series of paintings rehabilitating old beehive lids she found in the woods. They have become her canvas for compositions filled with images of beauty and interconnectedness of all living creatures and our amazing Mother Earth.  

She selected beehive lids with a strategic purpose in mind.  Toril states, "With the USDA de-regulation of 24d herbicide (50% of the mixture of 24d is Agent Orange), we continue to see a systemic failure to protect the health of our environment and our children.  Additionally, bee populations are in rapid decline as a result of mono-crop cultures and the increased use of these dangerous chemicals." 

Her hope is that by placing images of our relationship to nature on the homes which housed these vital and beautiful creatures, she might begin a conversation.

Gatitude, by Toril Fisher

Toril studied painting and metals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her BFA at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington State.  She currently resides in LaFarge, Wisconsin and manages a small farm, Second Cloud on the Left Farm, with her husband Drew and her parents.  The farm specializes in growing all heirloom, endangered, and rare varieties of produce.

You can find links to her farm blog and Facebook page via the above link.   Toril not only has a way with paint, but a way with words.  I adore her blog articles on Bernice Schroeder, "Queen of the Kickapoo"  Part One and Part Two, and the painting below somehow reminds me of Bernice Schroeder (my own interpretation).

Kalidescope Creek, by Toril Fisher

When asked for an artistic statement, Toril hesitates to write a formal statement about her work for fear of making frozen comments that potentially gain too much authority on what is depicted in her work.

Her work here and others she is currently working on will be on display and for sale at the Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, WI in May 2014.   Each painting is $300 + shipping.  Toril will donate a percentage of her sales from this show to the Xerces Society.  The Xerces Society advocates on behalf of threatened, endangered, and at-risk invertebrates and their habitats.  From the world's rarest butterflies, caddisflies that live solely in one stream, to declining bumble bee populations, the Xerces Society is dedicated to protecting invertebrates and the ecosystems that depend on them.

Star Valley Flower Farm, by Toril Fisher

For this challenge, please use these images for inspiration to promote Toril's desire to begin a conversation about the beauty and interconnectedness all living creatures share with our amazing Mother Earth.  

Please credit and link Toril Fisher as inspiration for your poem(s) by linking her website, Second Cloud on the Left Farm. 

I prefer all poems be freshly penned, however, if you have a previous effort that is screaming for a re-write, please feel free to do so.

Please link specific post to "Mr. Linky" below and feel free to write to more than one image.  As always, Fridays can be hectic, so please feel free to submit late and remember, Monday is "Open Link" here at the Garden.    I look forward to your artistic interpretations. 

Uprising, by Toril Fisher