Wildfire
Sophie Dua ‘23
“For this body of work I focused on understanding wildfire. Being from California I have spent a lot of time thinking about how fire has affected my life, as well as the lives of other people, animals, plants, and places. As wildfires become a more frequent and destructive force, I believe that it is important to reflect upon their impact, and the ways in which we recover, heal, and grow afterwards. I do so by using actual fire and charcoal in my work.
Fire was integral to the creation of my matchstick forest. This piece was constructed to commemorate the destruction of Paradise, CA in the 2018 Camp Fire, which was, at the time, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history. Hundreds of years of mismanaged and fire suppressed forests led to an excess of plant material and fuel, which contributed to the devastating scale of this wildfire. These two images are part of a larger series in which I reflect upon our tinder-filled forests, the fires which consume them, and the ensuing emptiness.
The Pikes Peak charcoal drawing came from observation of the mountain from the Waldo Canyon burn scar just outside of Colorado Springs. This piece, as well as the Fireweed, was created in the class “Field Drawing as a Naturalist Activist” taught by Kate Aitchison. The primary medium for this drawing was charcoal that we collected from that burn site.
The final piece, Fireweed, was made in commemoration of the 2020 Lighting Complex Fires in California. Made of homemade paper, charcoal, and watercolor I wanted this piece to emphasize resilience and rebirth as it can be easy to lose hope when thinking about wildfires, climate change, and the future of our forests. Fireweed, Chamerion angustifolium, gets its common name from being one of the first plants to arise after a wildfire. To me they are symbols of hope and growth, a phoenix of the plant world.
I want my work to serve as a vector for science communication and a tool to connect to the natural world. Fire is both an essential part of life, as well as a dangerous force which needs to be confronted in the wake of climate change. I hope to inspire more people to do their part, since the growing number of destructive wildfires is an environmental issue, environmental justice issue, an economic issue, a political issue, a safety issue, and a personal issue for all of us.”
May 2022
Pikes Peak. 6’ x 4’, Charcoal on paper.
Matchstick Forest Unburned and Burned. 3” x 3” x 3”, Matches and laser cut wood.
Fireweed. 22” x 5” x 5”, Homemade paper, wire, watercolor.