Walking the Earth: Oregon

Rebeca Méndez’s immersive video is an intimate portrait of a human figure walking through all 9 ecoregions of Oregon, from the Willamette Valley to the Columbia Plateau. The work captures 54 vertical landscapes, each depicting a record of the artist walking the earth at the horizon line between dawn and dusk. Through her lens, the biodiversity of the landscape unfolds as an unbroken continuum. Walking the Earth: Oregon investigates walking as research, resulting in a meditation on nature, and a call for deeper collective thinking (and action) on what reciprocal relationships can and should mean in a multi-species world that is navigating the challenges of climate change.  

Walking the Earth was driven by Méndez’s interest in perception and embodied experience, to physically encounter our planet’s natural forces in order to understand her place within it. It is part of her continuing investigation of the tension that exists between nature and built environments, native and transplanted species, and species migration.  

To create this artwork, Méndez and Adam Eeuwens, her life and studio partner, conducted thorough research of each region depicted, rented a camper van, and, relying on multiple maps and weather apps, traveled for a month through sun, wind, rain, and snow. Together, they traversed the state of Oregon from coast to desert and mountains, performing and documenting the earth walks and engaging at a human scale with its diverse ecologies and awe-inspiring landscapes. This project was made possible with the support of Montalvo Arts Center’s Lucas Artists Program. 

This work is on display in the Cottage Gallery, located near Parking Lot 2. The Cottage Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 am – 3 pm (or by appointment). If you would like to make an appointment, please email lap_programs@montalvoarts.org.