Photo by Laura Dawe

ABOUT

Lydia Idel is an interdisciplinary artist with an ongoing experimental practice collaborating with other-than-human beings. A large part of her practice includes “ephemeral sculptures,” short-lived pieces made in collaboration with other consciousnesses, which she documents with digital photographs.

Idel is driven by the belief that the unaided human species is incapable of resolving our planetary situation, yet aid is all around us. She views plants and trees as wise, capable teachers who can give us highly practical - even technical - guidelines on how to play our part in regenerating the planet. The trick, of course, is remembering how to listen and having the courage to implement the instructions received. 

Her current projects, The Chapel of Natural Intelligence and The Classroom of Natural Intelligence, are installations that support group conversation with trees. She believes that inter-knowing with the other-than-human world is a birthright which we can and must regain. Her works focus on experimentation, humility, practice, courage, and community as vehicles for restoring us to our right-sized place in the interwoven whole of life. 

She received her BA with a concentration in Studio Art from Williams College. Prior to beginning her formal arts practice she worked in experience design research and systems strategy.

Ever impelled to bridge worlds, she once owned and operated what might be the first and only native Texas plants nursery + biker bar + music venue.

CONTACT

greetings at lydiaidel dot com