Rachel Binah

Born: 1942

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Unknown

""MY PIECES COMBINE ODD COMBINATIONS OF MATERIALS, DISCARDED REMNANTS OF OUR CULTURAL DAMAGE AND WASTE CONSTRUCTED OR HAND SEWN WITH INTENTIONALLY RUSTIC/NAIVE AND CHILD-LIKE SUTURES OF TWINE, RIBBON OR WIRE Living near the ocean, I feel an emotional connection to its pristine beauty. The textures and shapes of the water as it moves are elusively compelling. The work reflects my fury about the arrogant and erroneous notion that we can mend the ocean while ignoring the environmental horrors created by greedy ocean oil drilling industrialists. I’m hopeful that it is not too late." (rachelbinah.com); "Working alone while sequestering, making paper/fiber constructions changes the subject of ever-present disturbing national and world events. Sewing is especially comforting. It calms me. I use heavy watercolor paper, thread, twine, ribbons, cardboard, fabric, paint, pencils, window screening, and odd combinations of unrelated materials in my work. The textures created by the layers of the materials are reminiscent of the many ways ocean water presents itself, here at the edge of our country. I often think about how we must protect the ocean in order to survive. It’s been said that the ocean and the trees are the lungs of the planet. The Futility of Trying to Mend the Ocean Once it is Destroyed explores pollution from our overfishing, dumping plastics, oil spills, and debris. In Big Blue I continue the theme of human naiveté about the vastness of the ocean and how we choose to look away, hide, and cover-up. Pelagic II is about the raw power of the ocean, metaphorically." (rachelbinah.com);"

— Rachel Binah

Field of Study: Community & Environmental Activist; Artist

Institution/Corporation: None found

Degrees & Memberships: Member: Democratic National Committee

Awards: 2009 National Women's History Month Honoree; 2022 a redwood grove in Manchester CA was named in her honor

Achievements: mobilized her Fort Bragg California community to stop oil drilling off California’s North Coast; advocates for Earth’s environment, alternative energy, and ocean protection to Democratic candidates, elected officials. her 2018 art exhibit, "Rachel Binah: Black & White in color, Paper & Constructions" was intended to explore the current sentiment of modern politics;