Hog confinement has rapidly progressed to the level of insanity in the mid-west in the last few years. Smithfield Hams (the largest pork producer in the U.S.) was bought by Shuanghui International Holdings in 2013. So we are polluting our air and water supplies and then sending the pork to China. Many of the owners of hog confinement operations don't even own the animals they are raising. Obviously not much has changed since the beaver became the first animal to be trapped and shipped to another continent in staggering numbers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The wise owl is looking across the field of corn (another centuries old invasive species) at the too familiar metal sided hog confinement operation. The buildings are fairly innocuous in their design and physical presence.
Poppies have represented various meanings related to death, sleep, and even redemption. The poppy is also a flower that has traveled throughout the world for one reason or another. These particular poppies came from the garden that was directly behind where I placed my tripod.
The flies appear courtesy of the hog waste from the confinement operation that is spread on the field before the corn is planted. Art history is full of references to flies having various meanings. None of them positive, and all of them pertaining to death, rot, disfavor, and evil.
Finally the teacup, empty and stained, is a reference to the country where a large percentage of the hogs will be sent. I'm not against the country of China or it's people. I'm against greedy, stupid people that make painfully myopic decisions that have catastrophic results.
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January 2019
- Jan 4, 2019 Printing... finally Jan 4, 2019
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September 2018
- Sep 13, 2018 “Dr. Paul’s Folly” Sep 13, 2018
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August 2018
- Aug 26, 2018 Framing Decision Aug 26, 2018
- Aug 20, 2018 "Are we Great Yet?" Aug 20, 2018
- Aug 20, 2018 "Imaginary Boundaries" Aug 20, 2018
- Aug 10, 2018 Just for fun Aug 10, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 5, 2018 "Cultural Exchange" Jul 5, 2018
- Jul 4, 2018 "Nature - Nurture" Jul 4, 2018
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June 2018
- Jun 27, 2018 "Requiem" Jun 27, 2018
- Jun 24, 2018 So far Jun 24, 2018
- Jun 24, 2018 "Passive Invasive" Jun 24, 2018
- Jun 16, 2018 "Blue Jay Tea Party" Jun 16, 2018
- Jun 14, 2018 "Suppression of Knowledge" Jun 14, 2018
- Jun 14, 2018 "Able to Hover" Jun 14, 2018
- Jun 14, 2018 "Return" Jun 14, 2018
- Jun 13, 2018 "life well lived" Jun 13, 2018
- Jun 10, 2018 "measuring trade" Jun 10, 2018
- Jun 7, 2018 "Invasive Metaphors" Jun 7, 2018
- Jun 5, 2018 "Critical Mass" Jun 5, 2018
- Jun 4, 2018 A few random thoughts Jun 4, 2018
- Jun 4, 2018 Sketches Jun 4, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Dress Rehearsal Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 While vacationing in a Tuscan villa... Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 There I was, minding my own business Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Flat Earth Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Pictorialism Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Anthropomorphic Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Protected Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 In The Beginning Jun 1, 2018
- Jun 1, 2018 Gibberish Jun 1, 2018