Earth Gallery One (page 2)
Docent Sentries
| It is helpful to visualize Earth Gallery One as a work of
art that conceptually and physically reached for a planetary scale in
order to convey the reason for its title and to the fact that it created a
gallery of exhibits that introduced art to a whole new level of utility─
in response to the need to protect and secure the future of the human
species─ and their new role as
stewards of the world. A total of twelve Sculptural totems or "sentries" where planned and given specific locations within the Lee County Florida. Two of them became "docent sentries" meant to announce to visitors that they are entering a zone with a heightened sense of affinity and respect for the environment. Following is a sample design drawing of the basic structural components for the sentries. I adapted the design and criteria to meet a number of different requirements in the litigation of permits and to suit the needs of the sponsors involved in the project. |
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| I was never easy to convey the magnitude and significance of the project, particularly at a point in time when installation art was not even a widely accepted term. A simple description as an environmental education project, worked fine for all of the agencies involved and the project was completed to everyone's satisfaction. |
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Note: All of the sentries have a message board with a
different legend for each side in addition to their own designated name. The "Friendship Sentry" is one of the docent totems, it is located on Stero Bay near Fish Tale Canal and Coon Key Island in Lee County Florida. The legends read: "The recovery of earth is a task accomplished only by man and nature in mutual friendship. Let's do it" "The basis of environmental recovery lay in oneness with creation and ourselves. Enjoy it"
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| "Friendship Sentry" was inspired by Mr. James D. Newton
(center), himself the quintessential friend having been a personal friend
to Thomas Alba Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Charles Lindbergh and
Alexis Carrel. At this time he was finishing his book "Uncommon friends." Brent Scheneman (left) and I had the privilege of his friendship for the remaining of his long life. The Logistics for the Friendship Sentry were made possible by the kind assistance of the owners and management of Fish Tale Marina, pictured below. |
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| Environmental recovery is like a relay race spread over several generations. Each generation moves the post forward in a conscious or ideological landscape that is or may be inaccessible to the previous generation. That is when intergenerational trust and tolerance comes in, therein lies the success of any meaningful improvements. humanity just happens upon the new ideological landscapes but seldom plans for them or assess their consequence. That is why when each new generation takes power we seem to go back to the starting point of the previous generation. |
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The "Lee County Sentry" is the second docent totem it is located at the Punta Rasa Public Boat Ramp
in Lee County Florida. This sentry was sponsored by Lee County in collaboration with several local and state agencies including the South Florida Water Management District. The legends read: "We are not here for ourselves alone" (James Bryce) "Protecting our resources today enhances our tomorrows" |
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| Lee County Sentry was unveiled on August 24, 1989 in a ceremony attended by several dignitaries and officials including Commissioner Ray Juda (at the podium) Parks and recreation director William Hammond, Department of Community Services Director Chuck Listowsky |
| Note: These totems were unveiled about 18 years ago, it is perhaps fair to say that most people just read the words and cruised by towards their destination. Today they are read with a heightened sense of urgency that we (humanity) may be allowing the environment to reach a point of no return, unless we begin to act on what we know and resolve the rest as we move forward. Earth Gallery One continues on the next page |