M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow, 2023
A project by the Meditation Ocean Constellation
Six-channel video installation with ambient score, guided meditations, seating, public programming
67 minutes, looped
For M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow, the premiere iteration of Meditation Ocean, a group of eight divers spent four days in Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys. Experimenting with notions of buoyancy and what they offer to terrestrial concepts of “grounding” in meditative practice–along with new modes of weightless embodiment—the divers rose from the seabed to float in meditation.
This “underwater meditation retreat” was both a live experience and a video production. The resulting footage, captured with three underwater cameras shooting in the round, was used to create the exhibition Meditation Ocean, curated by Jennifer Lange, on view at the Wexner Center for the Arts from February–July 2023.
A series of programs, workshops, and events developed with Dionne Custer Edwards and the Department of Learning & Public Practice accompanied the exhibition. There was also close work with Art & Resilience at the Wex and its incredible student leaders. Additional engagements involve The Ohio State University's Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center and the Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetlands Research Park.
A gallery guide features texts by Anaïs Duplan, Hope Ginsburg, Melody Jue, and Jennifer Lange. Read about Meditation Ocean in Artforum. An exhibition Climate Impact Report is shared on Artists Commit.
A project by the Meditation Ocean Constellation
Three-channel video with five guided meditations
Channel 1 — 14 min. 55 sec. looped
Tifani Kendrick, "Breath-Centered Meditation to Connect with Creation"
Sara Smith, "When humans dive, are we marine mammals? Five considerations as we breathe."
Channel 2 — 19 min. 08 sec. looped
Riane Tyler, "Your Deepest Ocean Meditation"
Channel 3 — 27 min. 48 sec. looped
Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles, "Meditation for Divers"
Fiona Middleton, "Concentration; a mineral gathering"
Excerpts from each of the five guided meditations follow. Full artwork credits appear at the end of this page.
Meditation Ocean Constellation
Meditation Reels from M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow, 2023
Three-channel video with five guided meditations
Production:
Hope Ginsburg, Artist/Director
Jennifer Lange, Producer
Alexis McCrimmon, Editor and Colorist
Matt Flowers, Director of Photography
Joshua Quarles, Composer and Sound Recordist
Meditation Authors/Readers:
Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles
Tifani Kendrick
Fiona Middleton
Sara Smith
Riane Tyler
Divers:
Bob Ballard
Mary Boltz
Hope Ginsburg
Sarah Howard
Jim McNeal
Steve Peloquin
Rachel Stewart
Riane Tyler
Vocalists:
Matthew Barger
Olivia Carlton
Lauren Maho
Jesse Roberts
To hear all ten of the "M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow" meditations, please go here.
Meditation Ocean and Meditation Reels from M.O. Turtlegrass Meadow are supported by the Wexner Center for the Arts Film/Video Studio Program and Artist Residency Award in Film/Video.