Apocalypse Apothecary
5.5m x 3m x 6m
Reclaimed wood, wild plants, found objects, reused nails, LEDs, sugar, yeast, oil, wax, baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, salt, digital media & a physical publication.
2023
5.5m x 3m x 6m
Reclaimed wood, wild plants, found objects, reused nails, LEDs, sugar, yeast, oil, wax, baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, salt, digital media & a physical publication.
2023
‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ is a multidisciplinary project—utilizing elements appropriated from an imagined pharmacy—in order to create an immersive environment of intersecting experiential art objects, media and events. The work does not limit the definition of “apocalypse” to some speculative future, but also sees it as a contemporary happening which is intentionally pushed upon individuals whenever and wherever personal health is viewed through the lens of profit motive. The work posits that current trends in nostalgia, escapism and survivalism are merely symptoms of an overarching system of advanced capitalism that alienates individuals from their bodies, each other, as well as the environment.
‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ attempts to walk a fine line in examining these problematic aspects of contemporary (primarily American) society. While the project’s focus is health, the same issues of profiteering and privatization are mirrored within other economic sectors which capitalize on basic human needs (e.g. healthy food, housing, and education). In an effort to abstain from this exploitation, either because of necessity or will, and in large part due to the availability of information on the internet, large numbers of individuals across the political spectrum have taken to questioning the validity of this system-an outcome which has had both positive and negative reverberations. The beneficial aspects—of knowledge sharing, community building, as well as the exploration of natural and traditional medicines—are investigated through the project, through the experiential art objects and media, but especially through the artist-led workshops. In all aspects of ‘Apocalypse Apothecary’, the work envelopes participants in a network of cross-referenced ideas that are manifested in spacetime.
Starting as viewers, the project encourages individuals to become active participants by touching and smelling the plants which have been curated as part of the installation, to partake in the various non-traditional experiential art objects, to join a workshop, and more. In doing so, the work should function as a catalyst for enabling interaction with one’s local natural environment, as that which can benefit their physical and mental health, and which they can also benefit. In this, the work facilitates individuals' de-alienation from their local ecosystems, creating pathways for engaging with wild flora for the benefit of both environment and individual. As should be evident, alienation from one’s environment(when it is seen as a resource to exploit) as well as one’s community(as individuals are forced to compete for personal gain) is a major cause of anxiety and isolation, which is directly detrimental to physical and mental health, and indirectly encourages risky behaviors and substance abuse. While the project can not cure this alienation—as it is a symptom of the overarching economic system—the project does seek to alleviate it for participants. As such, the work draws direct correlations between public health and local ecosystems, which have value not limited to the narrow scope of financial and material resources that can be extracted from them.
‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ has expanded greatly since its inception, both in concept and media, but hopefully that is evidence of its efficacy; as the ways in which it has been produced overlap with the ways in which one participates with it, and that approach (at least for its author) has facilitated greater critical thinking regarding the network of ideas presented by the project. It is a tiered system, which does not need to be accessed all at once, but first simply needs to be engaged with. In that first step, the project empowers individuals to learn more about their health, as well as how it can be affected by the environment. As this relationship becomes clear, so do its ramifications, and thus the gestalt of ‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ begins to unfold.
‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ attempts to walk a fine line in examining these problematic aspects of contemporary (primarily American) society. While the project’s focus is health, the same issues of profiteering and privatization are mirrored within other economic sectors which capitalize on basic human needs (e.g. healthy food, housing, and education). In an effort to abstain from this exploitation, either because of necessity or will, and in large part due to the availability of information on the internet, large numbers of individuals across the political spectrum have taken to questioning the validity of this system-an outcome which has had both positive and negative reverberations. The beneficial aspects—of knowledge sharing, community building, as well as the exploration of natural and traditional medicines—are investigated through the project, through the experiential art objects and media, but especially through the artist-led workshops. In all aspects of ‘Apocalypse Apothecary’, the work envelopes participants in a network of cross-referenced ideas that are manifested in spacetime.
Starting as viewers, the project encourages individuals to become active participants by touching and smelling the plants which have been curated as part of the installation, to partake in the various non-traditional experiential art objects, to join a workshop, and more. In doing so, the work should function as a catalyst for enabling interaction with one’s local natural environment, as that which can benefit their physical and mental health, and which they can also benefit. In this, the work facilitates individuals' de-alienation from their local ecosystems, creating pathways for engaging with wild flora for the benefit of both environment and individual. As should be evident, alienation from one’s environment(when it is seen as a resource to exploit) as well as one’s community(as individuals are forced to compete for personal gain) is a major cause of anxiety and isolation, which is directly detrimental to physical and mental health, and indirectly encourages risky behaviors and substance abuse. While the project can not cure this alienation—as it is a symptom of the overarching economic system—the project does seek to alleviate it for participants. As such, the work draws direct correlations between public health and local ecosystems, which have value not limited to the narrow scope of financial and material resources that can be extracted from them.
‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ has expanded greatly since its inception, both in concept and media, but hopefully that is evidence of its efficacy; as the ways in which it has been produced overlap with the ways in which one participates with it, and that approach (at least for its author) has facilitated greater critical thinking regarding the network of ideas presented by the project. It is a tiered system, which does not need to be accessed all at once, but first simply needs to be engaged with. In that first step, the project empowers individuals to learn more about their health, as well as how it can be affected by the environment. As this relationship becomes clear, so do its ramifications, and thus the gestalt of ‘Apocalypse Apothecary’ begins to unfold.
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The project consists of:
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Apocalypse Apothecary object documentation. 2023
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The 'Apocalypse Apothecary' installation at The Factory in Manchester, NH.
Apocalypse Apothecary tutorial videos:
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WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:
Cup-a-Soap / Saturday, July 29th at 10am, 2023
The Cup-A-Soap workshop will take participants on an exploratory walk around The Factory on Willow, introducing them to the locally available common wild plants as well as their medicinal uses, so that they can collect a personalized bouquet of wild plants. Afterwards, participants will be taken back to the Apocalypse Apothecary where they will be taught how to safely turn their bouquets into bars of soap within a lively and social atmosphere where learning and curiosity rule.
The Cup-A-Soap workshop will take participants on an exploratory walk around The Factory on Willow, introducing them to the locally available common wild plants as well as their medicinal uses, so that they can collect a personalized bouquet of wild plants. Afterwards, participants will be taken back to the Apocalypse Apothecary where they will be taught how to safely turn their bouquets into bars of soap within a lively and social atmosphere where learning and curiosity rule.
Atomic Balms / Sunday, July 30th at 10am, 2023
The Atomic Balms workshop will take participants on an exploratory tour around The Factory on Willow, introducing them to the medicinal uses of locally available common wild plants that are easy to identify for beginners. While “in the field” participants will develop a recipe based on the plants that they’ve encountered and harvested, following which they will be taken back to the Apocalypse Apothecary where they will transform their collection into balms for healing wounds, soothing skin, relieving pain and more.
The Atomic Balms workshop will take participants on an exploratory tour around The Factory on Willow, introducing them to the medicinal uses of locally available common wild plants that are easy to identify for beginners. While “in the field” participants will develop a recipe based on the plants that they’ve encountered and harvested, following which they will be taken back to the Apocalypse Apothecary where they will transform their collection into balms for healing wounds, soothing skin, relieving pain and more.
Lost and Found First Aid Kits / Saturday, August 5th at 10am, 2023
The Lost and Found First Aid Kit workshop will take participants on an investigative foray around The Factory on Willow, focusing on easy to identify and locally available wild plants as well as their applications in the field; to treat wounds, stings, and other ailments. Within the lively and social atmosphere of the workshop, participants will get to know local plants not just as the background of everyday life, but as aids which can be recognized and utilized on a regular basis.
The Lost and Found First Aid Kit workshop will take participants on an investigative foray around The Factory on Willow, focusing on easy to identify and locally available wild plants as well as their applications in the field; to treat wounds, stings, and other ailments. Within the lively and social atmosphere of the workshop, participants will get to know local plants not just as the background of everyday life, but as aids which can be recognized and utilized on a regular basis.
The Revelation Tea Party / Sunday, August 6th at 10am, 2023
The Revelation Tea Party is a hands-on workshop where participants will be introduced to a number of pre-dried local wild plants that can be easily identified by beginners, and how those plants can be ethically harvested and dried for long-term storage. The individual plants introduced during the workshop will also be prepared into teas, so that participants can test the flavor of each one as they also learn about the plants’ common uses, allowing participants to formulate the recipe of their tea blend based on their own taste, and not solely on the medicinal properties of the plants. Each participant will leave the Revelation Tea Party with not only a newfound knowledge of local plants, but also a blend of tea that they have prepared during the workshop based on their own needs and taste.
The Revelation Tea Party is a hands-on workshop where participants will be introduced to a number of pre-dried local wild plants that can be easily identified by beginners, and how those plants can be ethically harvested and dried for long-term storage. The individual plants introduced during the workshop will also be prepared into teas, so that participants can test the flavor of each one as they also learn about the plants’ common uses, allowing participants to formulate the recipe of their tea blend based on their own taste, and not solely on the medicinal properties of the plants. Each participant will leave the Revelation Tea Party with not only a newfound knowledge of local plants, but also a blend of tea that they have prepared during the workshop based on their own needs and taste.
Bath Bomb and Carry On / Saturday, August 12th at 10am, 2023
During the Bath Bomb and Carry On workshop, participants will be taken on a tour of discovery around The Factory on Willow during which they’ll learn about the medicinal qualities of local wild plants, and use that knowledge to curate their own collection. Once back in the Apocalypse Apothecary, participants will combine their collection with a little bit of simple chemistry in order to create bath bombs. Each participant will leave the Bath Bomb and Carry On workshop with a new awareness of some of the plants that surround them on a daily basis, a familiarity with how they can be used medicinally, in addition to a bath bomb that they can use at home.
During the Bath Bomb and Carry On workshop, participants will be taken on a tour of discovery around The Factory on Willow during which they’ll learn about the medicinal qualities of local wild plants, and use that knowledge to curate their own collection. Once back in the Apocalypse Apothecary, participants will combine their collection with a little bit of simple chemistry in order to create bath bombs. Each participant will leave the Bath Bomb and Carry On workshop with a new awareness of some of the plants that surround them on a daily basis, a familiarity with how they can be used medicinally, in addition to a bath bomb that they can use at home.
Apocalypse Apothecary was produced while artist in residence at The Factory in Manchester, NH, USA during 2023.
