A Rushing Sea of Undergrowth 1935

Curator: Emily Carr’s "A Rushing Sea of Undergrowth," created around 1935, immediately pulls you in, doesn't it? Editor: It does. The first thing that strikes me is the palpable sense of movement. Those brushstrokes! It feels like the undergrowth is actually breathing, alive with its own wild energy. Curator: Absolutely! Carr's oil paint application is so vigorous, capturing the essence of the West Coast landscape, which becomes the protagonist. It's as if the forest floor itself is a turbulent sea. What kind of labor could sustain this constant movement? Editor: Carr was deeply connected to the environment she painted. She'd often lug her equipment – her paints, canvases, easel – deep into the woods. Just hauling that equipment around on foot speaks volumes. Then add to this, plein-air painting, facing the elements directly! It couldn’t have been a delicate dance! Curator: Her mark making captures this rugged intimacy with her environment; she once described the forest as "cathedrals". Do you sense the divine in those swaying treetops? Editor: I can feel her intimate connection and struggle through the painting, not only with its production, but the environmental challenges she witnessed while doing this plein-air art in the late 30’s. I read this more as an indictment of unsustainable labor models of logging at the time. Curator: And in some ways, by emphasizing her connection to that undergrowth she shows logging operations do harm both the land and her artistic vision! Editor: Carr was adamant about preserving the wild character of British Columbia. And these expressionist landscapes weren't just aesthetic exercises. Curator: Not at all, her commitment shines. Even her process echoes the organic sprawl of the forest itself! What lasting thing does this say about our world? Editor: Ultimately, for me, this is the tension: Carr’s deep passion contrasts with how she paints the Canadian forests using industrialized oil paints, linking resource extraction directly to the beautiful "sea of undergrowth" we see before us. Curator: You've given me so much to mull over! I may see some cathedrals in those treetops, but I appreciate the view from your position amongst the roots!