The Fine Art of Decay

摘要

The sheer magnitude of decay in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, where I' live, is thrilling and sometimes overwhelming. Life in these forests involves soggy leaves, soggy children, and that ever-present smell of decomposing vegetative matter. Children love to crawl around on the forest floor for treasures. And who hasn't enjoyed kicking apart a soundly rotten log, watching the dry bits scatter, and hearing the mushy bits make that delightful squelching sound? I'm certainly not one to deny such visceral pleasures of the forest. But that log is so much more than decay. It is an ecosystem, a potential nurse log for new trees, or cover for small animals. Insects, bacteria, and fungi work together to provide a steady stream of nutrients that are cycled again and again through the forest. It is also something much more personal: It is art. And it is my life.