Earthmakers

In the 90s Zeigler sought to adopt a more analytic approach to the physical environment. In this increasingly interdisciplinary and collaborative phase, she worked on Earthmakers, a large-scale installation that incorporated prints depicting thousands of soil fauna, sound and sculptural components, an index, and video documentation. This project was undertaken with another artist, Joan Smith. Together the collaborative “dynamic” they initiated encompassed working with several scientists (the now Dr. Jeff Battigelli was of primary assistance), a master printer (Peter Braune of New Leaf Editions), and the general public.

An understanding of the land was approached by researching and documenting the soil fauna that inhabit a square meter of old-growth forest soil. Ideological assumptions about Western science, as well as what is valued and what is not by the public and the government, were considered with increasing criticality. Earthmakers also confronted in depth the idea of “landscape” in an effort to understand how concepts of nature, the land, and landscape are formed as they impact all life on the planet.

This project extended to the community through smaller-scale collaborative works and exhibitions. More than 200 prints on photo-etched matrices made up this installation that combined aspects of drawing, photography, digital imaging, relief printing, and collagraphy. A presentation for a magazine and other visual projects were also undertaken as part of Earthmakers.