That forest is such a lush...

March 15, 2006 11:08 AM

With global warming trends melting permafrost throughout the arctic circle, we may be seeing more and more of this phenomenon: Drunken Forests. An artist responds.
posted by jrb223 (9 comments total)

That 'art' is really ugly, IMO, especially this one.
posted by delmoi at 11:17 AM on March 15, 2006

it does clearly mention in her bio that this series is supposed to be commentary on climate change, and yet, for me the paintings evoke nothing related to this topic.
posted by poppo at 11:35 AM on March 15, 2006

Warming reshapes Arctic ecosystem

Bye bye bears.
posted by homunculus at 11:35 AM on March 15, 2006

There is bound to be some negative effect on the planet from a 20% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the last 47 years. Interesting links, jrb223. Thanks for posting.
posted by paulsc at 12:12 PM on March 15, 2006

I don't get it. I'm not saying that the "drunken forest" concept is a myth or that permafrost is not melting, but what exactly are those pictures supposed to show?

What I see are one or two trees leaning, not a forest. Walk the forest anywhere and this is a common sight, especially in places where there is erosion or at the edge of a wood such as are pictured.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:36 PM on March 15, 2006

I used to live in the arctic (hence the name) and I can vouch for the surreality of drunken forests. Although these pictures only show a few old trees leaning, the reality is much more stark. Imagine a riverbank and a tree growing out of the side of the bank. No, not up on the ledge, the side. The trunk is almost parallel with the water at first, and then curves upward toward the sky. Hundreds of trees like this scatter the bank of the Mackenzie river between Inuvik and Tuktoyuktuk (well, closer to Inuvik - there aren't any trees in Tuk).

That art is damn ugly, though.
posted by arcticwoman at 1:09 PM on March 15, 2006

Dry land is not a myth!

Those forests are pretty surreal.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:43 PM on March 15, 2006

Global warming is not a future problem.

National Hurricane Center and the Likelihood of Hurricanes. In 2004 and 2005 the NHC predicted a %65 chance of one major hurricane making landfall - it was more like 3 or 4 per year. The likelihood of the NHC mis-guessing 2004 and 2005 seasons so badly is about %1 (see math in above link).

The standard NHC models for hurricane prediction are not working. Somthing dramatic has changed. NHC has increased its estimate for 2006 to %80 chance of a single major hurricane making landfall (which means we might see 5 or 6!).
posted by stbalbach at 4:35 PM on March 15, 2006

Her method incorporates tactile and organic elements set against each other to often estranging effect.

This effect is commonly referred to by laymen as "ugliness."
posted by Citizen Premier at 5:44 PM on March 15, 2006