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Describing the drastic reduction of western
lands from their vast openness to our gridded human settlements,
"Umbered" follows the trail of the wild American
buffalo who've all but disappeared in our time. Once roaming
a plain as expansive as thunder, buffalo now succumb to domesticating
fences.
In "Umbered", Denver poet Brooke Granville
conveys well her sensitivity for loss. Reflecting her own
nature, Brooke's words are maternal, softly calling up the
feminine colors and textures that make up her western homeland.
By the end of her poem the reader is jolted into recognizing
a harsh loss wrought by our current lifestyle. Collaborating
with Denver painter, Lee Lee, the two women have conceptualized
a series of images and words to convey the urbanization of
our natural environment, which not only depletes our habitats,
but also depletes humanity's soul.
The foundations of Lee Lee's work are based
on her world travel, her appreciation for the sanctity of
nature, and the global arousal of consciousness against the
oppression of man and animal. From Cuban angels to Khmer elephants,
her paintings carry a scent of wonder. The buffalo in "Umbered"
are the first in a series of environmental subjects being
explored by the two women. Other work describes the hunger
of African lion cubs, or equatorial sea turtles whose nesting
grounds are ravaged by nest robbers' plastic bags.
Marilyn Munsterman is a woman of letters. A
librarian at the Arapahoe Community College, she is not only
well read but she also creates handmade books, collages, and
has a fine calligrapher's hand. Adorning Brooke's words, Marilyn
scripted collage hangs alongside the paintings.
For years the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
have committed themselves to the preservation and maintenance
of Colorado's lands. Proceeds from the sale of the "Umbered"
paintings go to support their well needed programs.
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