History is part of us even when we are unaware of it. I’d been living in and hiking around the Foothills for years without knowing much about the complex factors that shaped the history of this heavily forested area. I set out to learn more about what has brought us to the perilous wildfire conditions of the present moment. With the Caldor Fire of 2021 taking out more than 200 homes and 250,000 acres, and the increase of mega-fires across California generally, wildfire brings a strong connection to grief around the disruption of family life, the loss of generations of trees, damage to soil and wildlife, and release of masses of carbon. What historical forces might be relevant to understand where we are now?
The forest holds a history that can explain our current state.
Last fall I had a conversation with Tony Valdez, an energetic rock climber and passionate storyteller who worked for 37 years with the US Forest Service. Tony lent me his copy of the book by Timothy Egan, The Big Burn. It recounts circumstances around the 1910 wildfire in Northwest Montana and Idaho in which more than three millions acres burned. Whole towns were lost, and teams of brave forest rangers were overcome. This catastrophic event played a pivotal role in U.S. policy on public lands.
Around the time of this Big Burn, the foremost visionary for conservation, John Muir, diverged philosophically from Gifford Pinchot, the first official Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and wrestling buddy of Teddy Roosevelt. A great moral dilemma for the nation emerged around what to do with public or what was perceived as "unclaimed" lands. Some argued for saving the forests for future generations. Others represented powerful forces of American industry including timber extraction and railroads. They argued that government agencies must protect national land for profit-turning purposes, and in keeping with this mindset, that the responsibility of the Forest Service was then deemed to suppress fire.
The policy of fire suppression instituted at that time is a link in a struggle that continues to the present day.
Many people's lives are connected to the forest. I am deeply moved by the dedicated efforts and risks taken by foresters, first responders, and firefighters, and am deeply respectful of the traditional Indigenous approach to integrating fire holistically for forest health. Our local land stewardship efforts are examples of solutions in action, as are the findings of scientists about soil and plant recovery after wildfire. I have grief as well as anger about the impacts of environmental neglect and greed, yet people need sustainable livelihoods. It seems an impossible task to manage such competing factors.
Ultimately, our story is about the collision of land and fire, especially for those living on the wildland-urban interface, or WUI. In this zone, structures and human activities meet and intermingle with undeveloped land and vegetative fuels.
Our upcoming art and music exploration is about coming together to grieve, heal, and reflect on our shared history. On knowing that we have created the current conditions. On how we might possibly work toward a safer, healthier forest, by using fire. On calling in the spirits and ghosts who inhabit the land to hear their songs.
-- Ameera Godwin, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Myrtle Tree Arts
FIRE/LAND
An Experience Inspiring Community Resilience
Saturday, June 10th, 2023, 4PM - 10PM
Wakamatsu Farm, 941 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA 95667
A project of Myrtle Tree Arts and co-hosted by the American River Conservancy, this unique "art rock opera for the forest" and public forum will happen at the landmark Wakamatsu Farm. During the speaker forum in the late afternoon, local experts and representatives will share community issues related to wildfire, land stewardship, emergency preparedness, cultural preservation, and forest ecology. The evening features Main Street Collective's Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary concert followed by FIRE/LAND: Knowing the Territory, a musical and dramatic performance starring musicians, singers, Native American storyteller, and video projections in a creative exploration of wildfire, ecological change, and resilience in El Dorado County. This intellectual and creative experience strives to spark inspiration and your call to action in support of community resilience!
See more details on the Myrtle Tree Arts Fire/Land page.
FIRE/LAND: The Exhibition
SWITCHBOARD GALLERY
Arts and Culture El Dorado
525 Main St. Placerville, CA
June 8 - August 6, 2023
Experience this installation of Ameera Godwin's digital prints and video from FIRE/LAND.
Artist Talk, July 13th, 6pm
FIRE/LAND is made possible with support from:
The Latrobe Fund, Sacramento Region Community Foundation,
Pure Life/Sacred Roots, in partnership with the
American River Conservancy and Arts and Culture El Dorado
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