Richard Bonk
About
Project Art for Nature is a logical extension of my outer environmental art trajectory (outer nature) and meditative explorative pursuits (inner nature). I feel PAN will present fresh challenges for my development as an eco-designer, fabricator and artist. It would also bring together my arts, nature and spirituality interests in the development of a project to celebrate nature and educate viewers on the intrinsic value and importance of native species, natural habitats and the metaphors they offer for human and inter-species transformative wellbeing. Being a life long artist, environmentalist, and spiritual aspirant, this would present a unique opportunity to explore, experiment, express and communicate - in a manner that is in line with my values and introspective temperament.
Being at a fresh juncture in my (mid) life, I yearn to return to my roots - my love of nature, its creatures, forms, patterns and textures, to re-engage my traditional art making skills and to marry those with my recent digital and new technologies explorations. My artist heart opens in response to nature and art making and I wish to be of service to those two nurturing parents - Nature and Art, to skillfully and gratefully repay my debt; to support, protect and restore nature through art, and to expand my art through collaborating with nature.
Magic Mirror Mandalas: 2006; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum installation as part of their Secret Gardens Display; collaboration with Shawn Holster. Fabricated metal work, acrylic mirrors, plants and organic materials. There were four gardens, each facing one of four cardinal directions, E, W, N, S. Each garden was backed by 2 mirrors mounted at right angles so to view the garden with mirrors would complete a circular mandala garden.
Puppet Pond; a Future for Frogs?: 2009; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum installation as part of their Waterosity display; collaboration with Duane Tougas of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater. Human sized fabricated frog and dragonfly rigged as giant puppets for participants to animate; fiberglass over foam, styrene, polyurethane, paint, airline wire, pulleys, hardware. Exhibit meant to educate participants on how polluted water has affected frogs and other creatures, including we humans – and how we can help.
Quetzacoatalus: mid 1980s; full scale/life sized – 25 foot wingspan; fiberglass, resin, wood, chicken wire, clay, latex rubber, fake fur fabric; acrylic paint; installation for the Toledo Zoo Natural History Museum.
Biography
Besides his work as an artist, Richard Bonk (www.richardbonk.com) has a Masters of Education degree and has worked in health care, counseling, human services, research and education for over 25 years with a focus in preventative, complimentary and alternative medicine and mind-body approaches to physical, psychological and spiritual health and wellness. He currently works as a wellness coach and also teaches yoga and meditation. Richard has a special interest in the intersection of arts, nature, healthcare and spirituality and is a founding member of the Upper Midwest Arts in Healthcare group. He has worked as a design associate in helping to launch Yoga International magazine and in the education department as exhibit designer and fabricator for the Toledo (Ohio) Zoo. Richard is currently active in environmental and sustainable efforts as a site lead for his employer and a volunteer for neighborhood organizations including the Lake Nokomis Naturescape and Minneapolis Monarch Festival. He has also collaborated on environmental art installations for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Silverwood Park. Richard also offers classes, workshops and residencies in arts, creativity and self discovery for schools and other organizations as well as participating in various exhibitions, arts initiatives and media events in the Twin Cities and nationally.
Inverted Invasives: 2007; Minnesota Landscape Arboretum installation as part of their Art to AMaze Display; collaboration with wife Vicki Bonk and Wild Ones Native plants gardeners. Inverted buckthorn trees and buckthorn branches supports, Minnesota Casota stone with oil based printmakers ink prints of native plants, remnant native forest planting in center. Exhibit meant to educate participants on how invasive plants are turning our eco-systems up-side down – and how we can help reverse.
A Suarian Sectioned, digital giclee print on canvas, 18" x 36": abstracted segments of bearded dragon lizard from photos and scans.