Film captures lifespan of ephemeral art

By Brian Varela
Courtesy of the Petersburg Pilot

Using items found in nature, over 15 local artists from a range of age groups constructed pieces of ephemeral art that were spread throughout the community to celebrate last month’s Rainforest Festival. Kelly Bakos’ film “Ephemeral” documents the creation and lifespan of some of those creations.

Ephemeral art is a natural form of art that lasts a short period of time. The art pieces are constructed outdoors and as time progresses, they slowly become something else. Leaves change colors. Birds and small creatures pick at berries and mushrooms. Wind and rain shifts the gathered materials.

Along with the artists themselves, it was the changes that each art piece underwent over the course of several weeks that Bakos wanted to showcase in her film.

“The film is really about the artists and their art and their vision,” said Bakos. “I was just trying to capture it the best I could.”

About 40 people tuned into the screening of the film on Oct. 24, which was held over Zoom and hosted by the Rainforest Festival. Christina Sargent, Rainforest Festival Committee president, said the organizers were looking for a way to hold an event this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining the feel of past Rainforest Festivals.

Instead of hosting a reception and traditional art show at the Clausen Memorial Museum, the committee came up with the idea of an ephemeral art show to tie the whole event together. Artists would still be able to display their art, but residents could visit each art piece at their own leisure.

Bakos was contacted by the Rainforest Festival Committee to document the art show.

At the start of her film, Bakos shows several artists as they’re constructing their art pieces. Some artists made mandalas and figures that were pieced together with rocks, leaves, sticks and other natural materials. Other artists, like Marilyn Menish-Meucci and Karen Dillman, wove different materials together. They called their piece the Alaskan Rainforest Blanket.

Further up Raven’s Roost Trail, past the Alaska Rainforest Blanket, was a community nature weaving exhibit. After hikers were inspired by Menish-Meucci and Dillman’s “blanket,” they could weave their own items onto a loom constructed by Sargent.

For weeks after the Rainforest Festival ended, hikers were still adding to the community nature weave, said Sargent.

“That was really fun to see how that evolved and to get random people interested in contributing to the art,” said Sargent.

Bakos visited some of the art pieces again one week, two weeks and four weeks later as the film continued. The viewer can see the true meaning of ephemeral art as the pieces slowly change shape and disintegrate.

The Rainforest Festival Committee is making plans to release Bakos’ film online in the future. Anyone interested in watching the film can check in regularly at akrainforestfest.org or at the Rainforest Festival’s Facebook page for updates.