CONSERVATORi™ Treatment

Location Meditation Series - Artist Statement

Creative visionary Marshall Monroe is leading a team in the creation of the CONSERVATORi series: “location meditation” pieces that focus on the natural magic of a specific ecosystem. CONSERVATORi pieces are creating a visual study of regional ecospheres, or local ecosystems.  A multitude of capture forms are used (ground video, drones, telephoto, macro, advanced sound recording, etc.) to profile the complex web of forces and phenomena that together make a place a place.  A CONSERVATORi is focused on the natural interactions - the cosmic symbiosis - that makes a location unique.  On one level the focus is on what makes a place a “story.”  Each one could be a “land” in a future theme park.  As a location is studied, the team looks at everything from the long ago tectonic formation and volcanic origins, to the latest events - ranging from wildfires or a snowstorm, to derive what the subject warrants.  

This study requires an attention to terrain, seasonality, lighting, temperatures, wildlife, flora, fauna, migrations, and scale.  Yes, high aerial drone shots are part of the story, but that is only one slice of the pie.  Ultra close-ups of plant fibers, insects, morning light, turbulence in water flow, wind, shadows, erosion, and moss.  This has a scientific element, in the sense that there is attention to the soil type, the plant diversity, rain patterns, and weather, solar radiation, and the overall seasonality caused by the earth orbiting the sun.  People may enter the frame here and there, because they are part of the “picture,” but they are not the focus.

The focus is on the diversity of components that define a landscape, and the goal is to suggest and highlight the interdependencies.  This is not about waiting months for the ultimate sunset shot, or for a peek at baby cheetahs peering out of a den for the first time, but instead capturing the extraordinary in the regular daily natural events.  When one sees all of these crosscurrents, it is then revealed why a particular location “sets the stage” for unique human events.

Each subject has “internal” dynamics, but also has “external” connections - for example a creek has cascades and pools, and it may have a beaver that makes a large pond that supports all kinds of life.  But that creek is part of a watershed that comes from rainfall - a water cycle - and snowmelt over the course of a season.  Far away events can have consequences locally.

This is all a very poetic view of a habitat-level reality, with the purpose of raising awareness while also showing fresh perspectives.  One useful phrase for explaining this approach is that every location radiates “Infinite Beauty in All Directions” …  and this poetic view is pretty improvised.  When the team goes out to shoot, they have no idea what they will get - they need to have the tools and be “available."

This overall approach seeks out complexity, and the overriding boundary is the concept of location.  With the focus on deep interconnections, the CONSERVATORi winds up with the experience of “meditation.”

Seeing one of these artworks is inspirational, compelling, and informative, but the ultimate power comes after experiencing a series of them - to see 10 or 12 of the “episodes” so a deeper insight is built.  It is an insight on a human scale.  With meaning at a human level.  Like any great art should have.  Viewers will find that each location we study has a Magic of its own - a miraculous harmony and scientific symphony - one just has to learn how to observe and appreciate it.  THAT is the real goal.

Up to this point there has been no mention of “climate change” or “eco,” or “green” or  “environmental policy,” or even “conservation.”  The CONSERVATORi production team members are big believers in stewardship of natural resources, and these ideas are presently being used in distorted political contexts. The land and sea and air will be honored, and the rational decisions will be left to those willing to deal in facts and not spin or fear-mongering.  That all being said, the pieces will be intentionally encouraging viewers to think deeply about the truth and implications of these beautiful organic systems.

Another element to feature is the “artists” who are making these - the young team that is going out and capturing the footage.  The “making of” elements of a CONSERVATORi are often just as interesting as the location itself. Conservation and storytelling of a place require humility and curiosity from creators, akin to the work of people like Jacques Cousteau.

As an aside, one of the interesting origins for this concept comes from Marshall Monroe’s work in theme parks, where in order to tell a good story, one has to synthesize a “setting.”  And that effort is to study all the environmental elements that set the stage for narrative.  This includes elements for long-shot, medium-shot, and close-up.  If it is Tom Sawyer, what conveys the Mississippi floodplain in order to support the story?  If it is Lion King, what sets the stage of an African savanna (what animals live there, what is morning light like, etc.)?  This is just another element of what makes this series unique.  It might even be possible to go shoot great film locations for future CONSERVATORi pieces… (Braveheart, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sound of Music, etc.).

These episodes of artistic content will be roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes to 3 hours and are intended to loop.  Some will cover the whole episode as one day - morning to evening, and some might be four seasons.  They will have original soundtracks that are very “ambient” and intended to be background and to feature natural acoustic effects.

The first “season” will consist of ten presentations, with each released at roughly three-week intervals.

The Maui Special Edition

The team has completed an edition/episode of this work that features the island of Maui, with a focus on the western side of the island.  Part of this area was recently devastated by fire.  There is an opportunity to use this artwork as part of an awareness and possibly a fundraising promotion for the cause of those impacted by that blaze.

As part of the exploration of a new category of “mindful” media, the team is partnering with innovative new ultra media platform MIXONIUM™ to test bundling short versions of the larger artworks into MIX posts that can be shared across social media.  The MIX can contain background information, location facts, and even donation opportunities connected to each CONSERVATORi™ episode and study.  Check this one out:

None of the above is to say this is the first attempt to feature nature photography/video, but rather that the focus is on location-driven systems of systems.

In terms of competitive “landscape" (sorry for the pun), what is created is NOT a drone shot extravaganza, or a generic topic montage.  It is not a “drone-travelogue,” or a generic “topic” video like “pretty birds,” “underwater,” or “winter.”  It is also not just creating a single two-hour shot of a creek from a camera on a tripod.  These other approaches quickly come across as “clip art,” or screen savers.

What is being created is deep - akin to narrative and story content.  One might even use the term “location scouting.”

One last thought - the works that are created are extensible.  They can be improved over time - adding seasons, special weather, etc.  And that can mean for re-release each year or couple of years to keep the content fresh.  But the high concept never changes.