Gallery Show This Friday at Better Farm in Redwood

Photo/Jodie C. Taylor

Visiting New York City photographer Jodie C. Taylor will present a series of her
works from a month-long betterArts residency from 5-7 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 24,
at Better Farm in Redwood.
 
The art on display will be from multiple installations: “Consumed,” “Human
Nature,” “Unclaimed Meals,” and a preview of work featuring the people and
stories of Better Farm, a sustainability education center, animal sanctuary,
organic farm, artist colony and former commune that is also where Taylor carried
out her residency.

Consumed

Consumption is synonymous with western culture. Desires are sold as needs,
and the convenience of what is new often proves irresistible to consumers. The
Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average American produces
4.4 pounds of trash every single day. The global average is almost half of this.
For many people, thinking about the impacts of their own consumption may not
be a priority. Yet consumption—and its byproducts—affect every being on the
planet. And too often, the most vulnerable are affected first.

“Consumed” is a visual documentary project of waste in America, featuring
photographs Taylor took in and around New York City of junkyards, pollution, and
transfer stations.

Human Nature

Butterfield Lake is a popular summer destination that is also home to a wide
variety of animal and plant life. For decades, an area underneath Sweetpoint
Road along the lake in Theresa has been used by humans to dump trash. The
natural environment of this unofficial dumping area is reclaiming its space in a
classic struggle of man-versus-nature. This series of photos explores that tension
between human impact and the natural world’s resiliency.

Unclaimed Meals

An imbalance of oversupply and inaccurate demand has created an economy
where almost half of the food produced for the US never makes it to a plate.
Paradoxically, more than 40 million Americans live in food-insecure situations.
When food is not eaten, resources are wasted. But even when food is consumed,
a significant portion of the organic waste ends up trapped in landfill sites, which
causes the food to release harmful methane gas that contributes to climate
change.

Despite its positive impacts on reducing climate change, 72 percent of Americans
still do not compost.

For this installation, Taylor will screen a two-minute video on a television screen
with headset. Gallery visitors will have the opportunity to individually experience
the production.

Better Farm Previews

“Better Farm Previews” explores interviews and photos with former and current
residents of Better Farm. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear personal
stories and anecdotal tales about the history of the farm, as well as see archival
footage, photography, and present-day images of the people and animals that
call the property home.

About the Artist: Jodie C. Taylor is visiting Better Farm during the month of August as part of the betterArts Residency Program. That program invites writers, performers, musicians and
visual artists to create art at Better Farm. Jodie Taylor is most recently from Brooklyn, N.Y., but was raised in Australia. She is a recent graduate of the International Center of Photography's Documentary Program, and is passionate and concerned about the environment and issues of sustainability. After working for more than a decade in the financial services industry, Taylor made the career change to photography as she felt compelled to be a voice calling for action to
address environmental issues. Her primary goal is to produce visual stories for
education and advocacy.

Better Farm is located at 31060 Cottage Hill Road in Redwood. Learn more about the artist at www.jctphotos.com. To find out more about the betterArts residency program, visit www.betterarts.org.