Chapter 12: Lifeline, A Water Storytelling Project

Essential questions!

Constellation. 2015-2017. Hudson River. Photo by John Huba.

In the Waves. 2021. Newport, Rhode Island. Photo by Caroline Goddard.

Red Regatta, 2019. Venice, Italy. Photo by Marco Valmarana.

In Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, Janine Benyus presents the following definition for biomimicry:

BI - O - MIM - IC- RY

[From the Greek bios, life, and mimesis, imitation]

1.   Nature as model. Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature's models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf.

2.   Nature as measure. Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the "rightness" of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned: What works. What is appropriate. What lasts.

3. Nature as mentor. Biomimicry is a new way of viewing and valuing nature. It introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but on what we can learn from it.

And then in the final pages, she offers the following guiding principles:

Does it run on sunlight? 

Does it only use the energy it needs?

Does it fit form to function?

Does it recycle everything?

Does it reward cooperation?

Does it bank on diversity?

Does it utilize local expertise?

Does it curb excess from within?

Does it tap the power of limits?

Is it beautiful?

The answer to all the questions is YES.
Constellation, In the Waves, and Red Regatta embody affirmative answers to all of those questions, as do my three forthcoming public intervention projects (and I will be sharing more about those as they unfold).

When nature is invited as a respected and appreciated collaborator and guide, the answer is always yes.

XO, Melissa

melissamcgillartist.com

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