MULTIMEDIA ART
Visual art, film, and writing – woven into living stories of connection.
BREATHE
Painting · Film · Lyrics
BREATHE explores the kinship between lungs and trees – between the breath of the body and the breath of the Earth. Created in memory of her brother, the work bridges grief and ecological reverence, revealing how respiration connects all life.
The tree-lung painting of BREATHE ( 69 +1/4” wide and 48 +1/4” high) was inspired by my longing for my brother to have healthy lungs. Stomata of plants and our bronchi are reciprocal opposites, as I felt that he and I were in much of our approach to life.
Dedicated to the memories of Trusaun Tribne and Dr. Edgar Arnold “Ned” Buttner, MD, PHD
READ LYRICS TO 'BREATHE'
Breathe
swans paddling in Venice water
doves in Delhi fly like they oughta
the whole human race
shelters in place
switch out the market place
San Fransisco’s got clearer skies
China slows down it’s mega coal enterprise
the oxygen that we inhale
we all know it’s getting awfully stale
we got to breathe
to breathe
we can share the air that’s clear
in a premiere atmosphere
we’ve got to breathe
Boston’s clean energy could use some tax credit
our lungs could use support
from the U.S. senate
oxygen is a seeds career
the average tree can make
two hundred sixty nine lbs. a year
planting just two trees gives a family of four
enough oxygen for a year or more
we’ve got to breathe
to breathe
New York City turn down the nitro dioxide
Russia tap the wind, got a heavy supply
don’t you know
toucans need to breathe too
breathe
don’t you know
George Floyd needs to breathe too
honey bees, honey bees they need to breathe
breathe
_____
Sign the petition to save bees from a highly toxic Pesticide
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MAMA QOTA
Drawing · Watercolor · Documentary
Mama Qota is a multimedia work combining drawing, watercolor, and documentary to honor the Aymaran understanding of lakes as extensions of the body. Featuring environmental scientist Marina Morikawa, it reveals how healing water reflects the healing of ourselves.
MAMA QOTA - Documentary
Mama Qota is an environmental short documentary.In their own language Aymaran men illuminate our understanding of how their culture relates to the lakes in their home land as an extension of their own bodies, and as a spiritual source as well as ending ground.
Marina Morikawa is an environmental scientist who has been miraculously successful cleaning the pollution of these water bodies using natural methods. He is also interviewed, revealing a similar understanding of how we are mirrors of our Earth.
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ALCHEMY
Visual Triptych · Essay · Short Films
Alchemy interweaves visual art, lyrical narrative, and film to explore emotional responses to climate change – shame, nourishment, and disconnection – and the alchemy that transforms them into awareness.
"Shame"
READ LYRICS TO 'SHAME'
Shame
slash and burn
scalding pressure
point of no return
your demands make me sick
tug of war lunatic
sure know something
Simon says
don’t say nothin’
use me I succumb
just keep rolling
pound me like a drum
keep on rolling
fire raging no control
give me back the life you stole
mute my voice I’m dumb
sitting in shit is taboo
I wait to take
my anger out on you
freedom, without guilt
who made up what we built
sure know something
mop up shame
don’t say nothin”
"Cabbage"
READ LYRICS TO 'CABBAGE'
Cabbage
tundra is melting
my heart melts too
our world is in hullabaloo
planted green cabbage
for the food bank’s advantage
time in the dirt
build heaven on Earth
we dare repair
bring it down to you and I
two becomes three and then three becomes four and next
four becomes more one more
healthy soil
say it’s dreaming
muddy hands give meaning
bright yellow squash
salad to toss
time in the dirt
build heaven on Earth
"DISassociation"
READ LYRICS TO 'DISASSOCIATION'
DISassociation
child of seven bitter nights tries to sleep parents fight
come the dawn noise is gone no one talks carry on
deny what you observe hurry up breakfast is served
put on polished brand-new clothes be sure no one ever knows
comes another bitter night heart goes freeze parents fight
you taught me not to feel you said it wasn’t real
facts I’ve learned to omit mistakes I can’t admit
if there’s meaning I don’t feel it
my heart is hurtin’ but I dis it
dis what I feel miss what is real disassociation
I became high achiever not a sustainability believer
parading off to school following the gag rule
I learned to ignore hate stick to status quo norms
cover feelings rigid mask it’s best to never ask
avoid painful reality but I am now VIP
I am in charge of policy for polution methodology
specialists round the globe talk to my frontal lobe
4 hundred million face drought 54 trillion pay out
I can not recognize pain working together to keep sane
not wired in my brain how to change this game
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VOTE
Film · Lyrics
BREATHE explores the kinship between lungs and trees – between the breath of the body and the breath of the Earth. Created in memory of her brother, the work bridges grief and ecological reverence, revealing how respiration connects all life.
READ LYRICS TO 'VOTE'
Vote
this land is your land
this land is my land
this land is your land
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
we all are collective
everybody’s connected
we are all aboard this boat
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
stand up and vote come on and stand up and vote
the vast oceans before us
are made up of tiny drops of water
every son and every daughter
each last one of us counts
we can’t afford to leave one out
talk about what goes on in this democracy
let’s not be apart of hypocrisy
show your might and do what’s right
voting is a way to show your light
on election day keep your vision in sight
we are the people
we are the life blood
of the land of the free and the home of the brave
oh say did that star spangled banner yet wave
set yourself free
this land was made for you and me
come on
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
we need each other (we need each other)
every mother, father and brother
be apart of what makes the rock roll
feel yourself as apart of the whole
you’re a notch in the wheel
you’re a part of the deal
you’re vote could be the reason why
reach for the sky
as the people we make a difference
don’t let there be any interference
your place is not to be quiet
put your voice on the ballot
be the one with the mallet
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
come on we need to stand up and vote
the electoral college doesn’t have the knowledge
so make a date with your state
put on your shoes and don’t forget your coat
show em where you want your vote
together we can turn the tide
so don’t give up till the fish is fried
the ballot is on your side
you be the guide
stand up and vote come on
we are the people
we are the life blood
of the land of the free and the home of the brave
land of the children’s pride
from every mountain side
this land was made for you and me
we are the people (Ohio)
we are the life blood (Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico)
of the land of the free and the home of the brave (Arizona, New Hampshire)
land of the children’s pride (West Virginia, Missouri, Iowa)
from every mountain side (Wisconsin, Nevada, Maine)
this land was made for you and me (Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Arkansas)
come on
stand up and vote
stand up and vote
this land was made for you and me
everybody I want to see you there on election day
(I’m gonna be there)
this land was made for you and me
Credits
Lead vocals: Toni Hall
Rap vocals: Carsten Lindberg & Joachim Suare
Recorded at: Great Dane Production Studios
Background vocals: Marianne Bernhard
Recorded at: Tommy Hall Productions
Bass: Alex Cordrey
Drums: Ben Leinbach
Guitar: Gawain Mathews & Drew Youngs
Keyboard: Joey Muller
Lyrics and music: Marianne Bernhard
Engineered, produced, and mixed by: Joey Muller
Studio: Totally Cool Productions
Musicians: Gawain Mathews, Ben Leinbach, Alexander Cordrey
Lyrics & Production: Marianne Bernhard
AWARDS
