AMERICAN MYTHOS
Panel 1: Prologue Oil, 5’x9’. 2021
THE PROCESS: Painting Plein Air, Sketch for Panel 1. Prolgoue
2020 Location 1: Whiskeytown National Forest, CA. Five days after wildfires burnt more than half the forest.
Documentation, research and a traveling Residency.
Dygert visited over 10 National Forests, and 15+ states during 2020, at the cusp of the election, during rampant wildfires, and a national pandemic. The landscape of this project is formed from various plein air paintings completed directly onto the 5’x90’ canvas scroll to create a continuous narrative piece.
Dygert leaves for the remaining trek of this traveling residency in June 2023. She will drive from Key West, FL to the northern-most point of Maine, visiting numerous National Parks and monuments on the eastern coast of our nation.
PROJECT SUMMARY
American Mythos, 2020 to present
American Mythos aims to document the disconnect between the stories we tell and the realities we face through a 90’ oil painting. It revisits fables traditionally used to describe heroism, infamy, freedom and success which often avoid true discussions of America and its people.
This body of work explores how these narratives have done little to help contemporary challenges. We pass laws to end racial discrimination, yet lack the resolve to create a more equitable society. We welcome the idea of cultural pluralism, yet we are still grappling with ethical immigration. We champion prosperity for all, but live in a country with rampant homelessness. We remain the only first world country without universal healthcare, even in the midst of a global pandemic. We aim to grow a better future for the next generation, but have yet to take action towards fighting the global climate and agricultural crisis.
With information and misinformation being shared online globally, the American consciousness combats the tradition, behavior patterns and government policies that undermine freedom and justice for all.
The Prologue is a powerful reminder that the narratives we inherit are not static but rather subject to our collective scrutiny and transformation. It invites viewers to question and examine the structures that perpetuate inequality and the role each individual plays in either upholding or dismantling them. It also acknowledges the need for introspection, dialogue, and collective action in order to foster a more equitable and inclusive society.
I am excited to explore the remaining 75+’ of the painting will develop and how it will further explore the themes of privilege, social dynamics, and the shaping of contemporary mythos. I believe that this work has the potential to be a powerful tool for raising awareness of important issues and for creating positive change, forging a path towards our future.
Panel 1: Prologue
In the prologue of "American Mythos: A Black Ledger of Our Age," I delve into the complex dynamics of privilege, ancestry, and the implications they hold in our society. The panel serves as a recognition of the unbreakable monuments that have shaped our societal landscape and, at the same time, have contributed to the depletion of our umvelt.
Through visual storytelling and symbolism, this panel invites viewers to confront the realities of inherited advantages and the ways in which they intersect with our perceptions and experiences. The use of "forefathers" emphasizes the historical context and acknowledges the foundations upon which our present circumstances are built. It serves as a reminder that the privilege I, a white woman, enjoy today is a result of the actions and advantages of those who came before me.
This prologue cements the forthcoming painting, inviting viewers to critically engage with the complex themes of privilege, social dynamics, and the shaping of contemporary mythos.
Seeking grant funding.
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