Worm Signals

Humans are probably the most invasive and damaging animal species to our planet’s ecology at this time. One such development is the creation of poor soil fertility by the killing of earthworms indirectly from the toxic chemicals (e.g.: fungicides, herbicides and pesticides) farmers use regularly on their crops to increase yields and the marketability of their products (e.g. no blemishes on fruits and vegetables). This diminishes soil fertility thus forcing farmers to use fertilizers.

The goal of this ecological art project is to increase the awareness of the general public to the ecological cost of perfect-looking vegetables, fruits, gardens and lawns. The works begin by painting on paper spots of commercially available pesticides, fertilizers and fungicides mixed with non-toxic colours. Once these are dry, worms from a compost bucket are gathered washed in warm water and placed in diluted non-toxic food colouring and earth pigments. They are then put on the paper and their movements are video recorded. As they move they leave colour traces of their path. Their avoidance of the toxic chemical area is also visible. After they move off the paper they are washed and returned to the compost bin. The results appear as abstract paintings to an uninformed viewer.

made by red wrigglers with green and blue non-toxic food dyes on paper with red dye with weed killer, 28in x 22in., 2019

Accompanying video #1 Our earth needs them! 2:01min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4Sgt39YdgM&t=8s

made by dew worms and red wrigglers with blue and green non-toxic  food colouring on paper with red acrylic with herbicide spots, 24in.x17in., 2019

Accompanying video #2 We cannot live without them! 7:53min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXH88I7YUo0&t=22s

made by dew worms and red wrigglers in beet juice and blue dye stripes on paper with fungicide, 28in x 22in., 2019 6:51min.

Accompanying video #3, Worms make earth fertile!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-qAwrkfxKw

made by red wrigglers with blue and green non-toxic food colouring on paper with dye with salt, 28in x 22in., 2019.

Accompanying video #4, Earth worms herd and make group decisions, 3:19min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx79Lkxzf-8

made by red wrigglers with blue and green non-toxic food colouring on paper with red acrylic cross with fungicide, 28in x 22in., 2019

Accompanying video #5, Aristotle aptly called them “the intestines of the earth”7:37min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L5vT6Ow03E&t=15s

made by dew worms and red wrigglers with blue, yellow and red non-toxic food colouring on paper with fertilizer and non-toxic black dye, 18in.x24in., 2019

Accompanying video #6, Fertilizers and earthworms do not mix.4:02min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOBXa9dXcjo&feature=youtu.be

Who is the pest? made by dew worms and red wrigglers with blue, red and green non-toxic food colouring on paper with yellow acrylic with pesticide spots, 24in.x18in., 2019

Accompanying video #7, Who is the pest?. 3:24 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEDn0RXz4Gk

The Earth Needs Us to be fertile #1 made by red wrigglers with non-toxic black dye on paper with rectangular white spots with insecticidal soap, 24in.x18in., 2019

Accompanying video #8. The Earth Needs Us to Be Fertile #1 5:55min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtpouPdov-0