The Cloud Keepers — Rene' A. Westbrook

The Cloud Keepers

Recently, climate scientists presented a new study that warned of another unanticipated outcome of global warming: clouds are endangered. In the years ahead, the atmospheric conditions that are necessary for building high atmosphere stratocumulus clouds may simply be no more. We are killing clouds.

I imagine a nocturnal secret society of dedicated women scientists, skilled workers and alchemists who are scrambling to reverse these trends with whatever means they have at their disposal; The Cloud Keepers. Some measure and monitor atmospheric conditions in search of scientific solutions, while others cultivate, harvest and release clouds. The Cloud Conjurer creates clouds through mysterious electrically-charged methods, while the Cloud Dancers gather from far and wide to create the specific cultural and meteorological conditions to properly defend clouds.

These are the first four pieces of a multiple piece series toying with this storyline and the idea of creating contemporary myth around some of our most pressing global issues.

Thank you to Slopeswell Cider in Hood River for showing this work in their inaugural exhibit.