Andrea Sparrow

Endangered Spaces

To some degree, we have undone the mechanisms of balance in the world. While this is a result of the preponderance of human beings on the planet, it is in the western world, where Christianity has given us a sense of entitlement to excess, that the wealth and technology necessary for change are accompanied by a steep resistance to do so.

As we spread our ideologies of capitalism, resource use and globalization, we transmit this feeling of entitlement as well. We humans can be an enormously destructive force. And, although there can be astonishing beauty in this destruction, I feel we must redefine our sense of entitlement to one of responsibility to care for that over which we perceive we have dominion.

My most recent paintings document distressed landscapes, specifically reflecting the evidence of our impact on the planet. These landscapes are examined at varying distances from the earth’s surface using the technology available on Google Earth. It is only through sattelite images that the true scale of the consequences of resource extraction, pollution and overuse are evident.