A few years ago I thought it would be funny to make a bear holding a cabin as a nod to the donor portraits or Saints holding cathedrals from medieval European art.
I made one here and there but never really gave them much focus. When Dean offered me the opportunity for this show he mentioned the bears with cabins which opened the door to really explore the idea.
Making animals immediately leads you into our environment and all of the stress we put on nature with the choices we make in our lives and even more pressing the choices that are being made for us without our consent.
We have a lot of bears here in Massachusetts, and I keep hearing not enough housing? I guess that means too many people. A few years back we had a bear move in under a fallen tree, she stayed for 3 months and had two cubs. Humans and nature! Sometimes we just end up on top of each other. We respected her space and she was a good neighbor.
Frogs! I wish a saw more of them. I’ve only seen handful this summer.
I had a large Northern Leopard frog in my yard last week. We both jumped to avoid each other and I ended up on top of it. Even humans with the best of intentions are a menace to our wild neighbors.
Brantner has shown at The Geoffrey Young Gallery, LABspace, Ober Gallery, Exit Art, The Oresman Gallery at Smith College, The Ely Center for the Arts,TurnPark Art Space and Carroll and Sons. His work is in the collection of the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA. As well as many private collections across the country. This is his third show with Pulp.
A graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts University he now lives in Western Massachusetts with three donkeys, two dogs, two cats a pony and his wife, Shoshana who owns and operates Red Horse Press Etching Studio (www.redhorsepress.com), providing space for printmakers and education for those who may want to be.
Haikus composed while walking in the woods with the dogs
Gesture all around
Conifer and oak reaching
Towards the blue and brown
A frog is the same
As a mountain and a bird
This tree is my home
Golden hue flows down
From the canopy above
feel the light lift you
Soft Envelopment
A blank canvas is revealed
The quiet greets you
The landscape has changed
Since the snow muted the ground
We move with the path
The shimmering trail
Through fallen trees and mud
Alone with the sun
After the rain left
It’s wetness remains in pools
We walk around them
A grey veil softens
The dewy emerald morning
Sounds of you pecking
Sliding down the hill
the rocks and pebbles
Shifting under every step
Explosion of green
Walking on the soggy path
A new world begins
Forget where you are
Dripping trail leads us forward
We have found our way
Branches block the path
As the ground drys in the wind
Find a way around
As the day heats up
The deer flies orbit my head
This path is to long
Humidity weighs
A breeze shakes the leaves
The rain they hold falls
This walk seems longer
Enveloped by sticky air
We can’t stop panting
Move into the breeze
Letting the air surround you
Easier to breathe
When I stop to pee
Mosquitoes swarm around
need to keep going
Orange efts on the trail
The dog stepped on top of one
I think he’s ok
Deer fly in my hat
They won’t stop bothering me
I’ll just ignore them
A cool bed of green
Awakens in the grey light
Moist air fills my lungs
Spending time with trees
The owls are revealed
They watch from above
Getting into stride
Once we know the direction
Panting fills my ears
Three toads on the path
Where not one was seen before
Where are they going?
Bright Spring morning air
Woodblock woodpecker
Echoes through the marsh
Thanks to Maryanne Benz and Anna Hepler for firing the clay and good conversations.