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Once, I was a Wild Thing, If History Had Legs (March 2017)

by Squirrel Talk

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about

“If History Had Legs”
We are a voice for Tiny Places. Disappearing places. Extinct Places.

“If History Had Legs” is a multi-media public art work. The piece consists of: a painting (Let Me Paint a Picture of American Agriculture for You) a small corn crib constructed of locally milled yellow pine (that can be carried by four people), a film (which can be viewed at vimeo.com/226933326) a story, and original music by Squirrel Talk “Once I was a Wild Thing “. This was set up the “Prex Claires” event on June 15’ 2017, in downtown Eau Claire.

The story goes: a corncrib goes ‘walking’ looking for the kind old farmer who once farmed the land he lived on. A kind of time machine, the crib walks a landscape of historic places in downtown eau claire illustrating the changes afforded from resource extraction over the years. While the film has a quirky and humorous quality to it, it is juxtaposed with this haunting song, which is the voice of the earth remembering herself in days gone by.

The corn crib is a symbol for disappearing and extinct places. It is a relic as a result of unlimited growth agriculture.


“What I can see about monoculture is that the original landscape can never be restored. As a result, animals, songbirds, insects and plants - entire ecosystems are gone forever. This heartbreak fuels our creative work.” Joseph Maurer

Created by Squirrel Talk; Joseph Maurer and Deirdre Jenkins, Eau Claire Wisconsin 2017

Concept by Joe Maurer, Story by Squirrel Talk Deirdre Jenkins and Joe Maurer, Music by Squirrel Talk: "Once I was a Wild Thing" Deirdre Jenkins copyright 2017. Structural Design Noah Smit, Filmed by Kaze Studios Jeff Scanlon, Dan Theide, Editing by Jeff Scanlon, Joe Maurer, Deirdre Jenkins, Production Development: Bob A-Z, Pallbearers: Todd, Miles and Townes Adams, Zach Felling, Zeus Stark, Enzio Chilefone. Thanks Next Step Energy, Larry Stark, Chippewa Valley Museum, Public Arts Commission, City of Eau Claire, Eau Claire Police Department, Kyran Hamill, Jon Thorpe and Justin Green Toy Car Studios.

lyrics

Once, I was a wild thing
Mirroring starlight and sunrise and embers
Aglow and ablaze
Awakening the day
Smiling at the blythe velvet sky

Once, I was a wild thing
Holding oceans and river and shelves of ice
Trembling dew
Unbearable hue
Of mist embracing the dawn

Oh, sometimes I think I hear my name
Whispered by the wind
Or in the constant longing of the tide
For the shore

Once, I was a wild thing
Covered in mountains and prairies and desert
Burgeoning forth
Through verdant green folds
Yielding to the lure of the sun

copyright 2015, Deirdre Jenkins

credits

released April 7, 2017
Deirdre Jenkins - Vocals, Piano
Joseph Maurer - Mandola
Justin Greene - Cymbal, Tape Echo

license

all rights reserved

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