IMPETUS
2010
Graphite on Museum Board
40 x 60”

Impetus is a large graphite drawing from my Surface Tension series. I weave a detailed rendering of a nautilus shell into a pattern of water power, including a hydroturbine. I am drawn to the similarity of chambers in both structures. 

The growth pattern of the nautilus shell symbolizes The Golden Mean and the Fibonacci Sequence — formulaic patterns historically used to create balanced compositions that draw your attention. Because of this shape, the structure of the nautilus shell is extremely pressure resistant, imploding at about 800 meters (2,600 ft). The spiral has survived 450 million years and is considered a symbol of expansion and renewal.

Hydropower is clean and renewable once the system is constructed. Moving water is a reliable source of power that does not rely on the burning of fossil fuels. As long as the water cycle runs, hydropower will always be a viable source of electricity.

My trip to the Kinderdijk windmills in the Netherlands made me aware of historic hydropower. The Dutch moved water to clear land. Water turbines rotate to create energy—clever engineering utilizing moving water.

Water turbines date back to the Roman Empire. The French engineer Claude Burdin introduced the word “turbine” in the early 19th century. “Turbine” is derived from the Greek word that means “whirling” or “vortex.” The turbine swirls water into a spinning rotor. Making the machine much smaller and more efficient than a water wheel. 

The swirl makes a difference — it makes more water spin faster.

Hydropower is our single largest alternative source of energy. One-sixth of the global electricity was generated by hydropower in 2020. 800 million people in 28 emerging and developing countries get most of their power from moving water.

I draw your attention to the symbiotic relationship between natural and mechanical images to bring awareness to possibilities. We need to make choices about energy that improve the future of our environment and the quality of our planet. I support the development of a strong system of non-fossil fuel energy resources and the resulting economic benefits.