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Many, many months ago I received a vision of creating in the rainforest. Initially, all I could envision were ferns and moss. Just ferns and moss.
Photographs at Cypress Falls, Vancouver British Columbia by Mary Jo Mullins
I looked up the various meanings and symbolism of both moss and ferns. I was very intrigued to find so many different ideas out there. That said, the folowing descriptions are the ones that really resonated with me and inspired me the most.
Moss Symbolism
Moss is one of the most symbolic organisms on our planet.
Moss is seen as a place for reflection, and holds feelings of refinement, humility and simplicity.
It brings about a sense of nostalgia and contentment.
As a symbol of hard work, it reflects your love for life.
Moss is a sign of resiliency and dedication to achieving your goals
It is also symbolic of being elegant and proud of who you are.
Moss is one of the oldest living organisms on planet Earth.
Because moss has managed to survive almost every climate and exposure, it has proven time and time again to be a great survivor of any adversity.
Moss is an inherently calming plant matter contributing to the overall peace and calm found in a forested area.
"Moss has a sense of elegance in that it appears to be a calm and simple organism that requires little to no maintenance to thrive. However, moss are deeply complex organisms that scientists have been studying for centuries. Their adaptability and composure make them the perfect symbol for elegance"
Fern Symbolism
Ferns are more than just gorgeous garden plants. They are also a powerful reminder of concepts like rebirth, healing, and even dance.
There are more than 12,000 different kinds of ferns that grow around the world. They have flourished on every continent in the world including Antarctica. Many have medicinal properties, and some are even edible. Their usefulness and omnipresence make them very significant in many cultures. This means that ferns have a wide range of meanings from the Pacific Coast to the Appalachia. Some Native American cultures view ferns as a symbol of traditional dance, while others consider them a sign of water.
To read about Sword Ferns, abundant in British Columbia, click the button below.
I had been spending so much time in nature. Hiking, walking and even dancing. Nature was calling me as she often does. I knew that I wanted to create something new. I knew that I wanted to travel and take photographs of moss and ferns. I was craving an immersive experience in this environment, in the green. I considered going to the Georgian Bay area between Owen Sound and Tobermory, as this is where the most prolific ferns in Ontario live. There was no doubt in my mind that I had to photograph both moss and ferns in their natural habitat. Ultimately, I decided to head to Vancouver and hike in the rainforest.
That was just the beginning...
Cypress Falls, a short drive from the downtown core of Vancouver, was my destination. I only had two days to shoot the camera. So, I needed a close hike to make the most of it. Too add to time being of the essence, I had decided that I wanted to experiment with a tripod to attempt to get myself into some of the images. Fortunately, the weather was sublime. Images of a foggy, rainy, green rainforest would have been just as beautiful in my mind. But, hiking and lugging equipment on such days would have made it more difficult for me to focus and surely would have slowed me down. It was going to take fifty five minutes on a good day to make the moderately difficult hike to the falls, so I was grateful for moderate tempertures and sunny skies in late June.
From within about three minutes of starting the hike from the parking lot of Cypress Falls Park, I was transported to another realm. This place was magical, spirited and mostly silent. It immediately created a deep feeling of serenity, gratitude and a vivid sensory experience of the abundant creativity of nature. The deep green hues of the forest against a dark earthen floor beckoned me to explore. Neither green nor black exist in my most loved of colours catergory. But, this particular combination set with the brilliant reflections and movement of water and sunlight also creating shadow, spoke to a very deep inner space and place that lives within. The energy fully enveloped my being, beginning from somewhere behind, embracing me in a very warm, loving and grounding way. It was womb like combined with a great expanse and freedom at the same time. It was both extremely comforting and sensual, which created a very safe environment for me to connect and explore. I completely understood and felt all of the energy and qualities of moss and ferns that resonated and inspired me so deeply.
The white of my garment, the waterfall and in some cases, stone and the piercing, brilliant white light of the sun pop dramatically against the dark green earthy backgrounds and shadow.
I was in awe of the beauty and serenity that enveloped me. I balanced the movement of hiking with pausing for connection and reflection. Taking my time to really notice what I was sensing, I was able to drop down into the photo taking and enjoy the full experience of it. By the end of it all, I was delighted to have captured enough images to create an online gallery.
To view the full photo gallery of Green Earth, click the button below,
My heart full of gratitude and contentment from immersing myself in this beautiful magical place inspired so much in me. I was deeply motivated to create movement that embodied my experience of the rainforest and connected myself more deeply to it's essence, particularly of Cypress Falls itself. So, for a few weeks in late summer I made several drives to Tremblay Conservation Area near where I live. I spent loads of time on the beach improvising movement and filming myself as I connected to the natural environment, reflecting on my time in the rainforest.
Full of sensory awareness, feelings and imagery a multitude of source material began to emerge. I played with layering my photos with text, artwork and symbolism while I began to assemble a film integrating the movement and layered photos. In the meantime, I had three wonderful opportunities to perform the movement and connect audiences to my work throughout the fall which deepened and enriched this creative process.
The film has been such a joy to create. It is certainly a new experience for me. It is very technical and precise. I love layering the photos with video, sound and artwork and playing with timing. In parts, I have created old school animation, creating the illusion of movement on film by placing several different photos in a specific sequential order. Now, I am really looking forward to the possibility of culminating this project with an installation of the film, photography and dance performances later this year.
To view excerpt from the Green Earth film, click the button below.
Thank you for sharing this process with me. It has been very rich, satisfying and rewarding. I hope you have enjoyed learning about it and are inspired to pursue your own journeys. I will be sure to let you know when Green Earth will be presented, so that you may plan to attend!
To receive a 20% Discount on art in ESSENTIALLY WILD ART, use the code WILD
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