Ring of Fire Installation, Arcata California

This is an overwhelming era of change.

The reality of climate change, the

pandemic experience, the advances of

A.I. and the dramatic move toward

digital spaces, has created a new

sense of urgency around finding

spiritual and community spaces that

respond to our emotional and psychic

needs in a contemporary way. RING OF

FIRE is a response to that need.

Clementine Wright-Zenners focus on

impermanence is combined with Rick

Gradone’s exploration of the stability

of rocks to form this work in the form

of an active and evolving shrine that

functions dually as spiritual and

community space. Dead branches

frame a very living view into the forest

as found objects repurpose things

considered to be “garbage” into an

altar that suggests that all hope is not

lost. The earth is more powerful than

our ability to pollute it. Maybe solutions

exist when we come together to look

more closely at what is here. Maybe we

could think of our refuse as resources

that can be the building blocks of new

physical and spititual forms. “Ring of

fire” refers to the geological dynamics

of the Pacific plate that has formed

and continues to form the landscape

of California. It is constantly in motion,

constantly evolving. This piece is

intended to evolve by its use and the

addition of intention and objects

created by its participants. This shrine

was supported by the addition of

objects created by artists who work

with the Trajectory artist program and

is an extension of the Creekside Arts

mission to create meaningful

collaborations in artistic space.