Wolff, Rachel. “When Storm Is Collaborator.” ARTnews Apr. 2013: 80-85. Print.
This article highlights artists who’ve been affected by natural disasters, chronicling their reactions towards the destruction of their artworks. There’s a common trait of both hope and adaptability within each artist’s account of their art being either destroyed or altered by a natural disaster. Overall, the tone of this article is optimistic, treating disaster as a catalyst for creative thought and possibility. Almost every artist’s account of coping with the damage of Sandy and Katrina was a difficult but rewarding experience that is reflected in their newly cultivated artwork. For example, artist Ray Smith’s wooden sculptures (two large wooden heads) were damaged by flooding and were covered in bird excrement because they were left outside for such a long time. Smith embraces the new addition to his sculptures and plans on casting the sculptures in bronze to “preserve the unexpected ‘paint job’ forever” (81). I relate this article and the artist’s experiences with the notion of agency and how nature has intervened with the artist’s work. I think the idea of a natural disaster acting as an agent for creativity relates to the sense of agency and how the environment does have the ability to act and alter its surroundings, ultimately benefiting the artist’s that have been affected.
