Shea Gordon

The Gold Standard (2003 - present)

Gordon draws from diverse sources such as the 1992 publication of “The Dead Sea and Its Setting” edited by Tina Niemi and the 1996 volume “Coincidence Detection in the Nervous System”. She “gilds” elemental charts and electronic geographical mapping as a means to synthesize art and scientific research. Metaphorically she aims to illustrate the correlations between gold as a sacred material and the scientific standard of truth as a means of humanity’s survival. 

Gordon writes: “Man is considered the ‘gold standard of animate life’ and science, although not without its problems, remains the accepted ‘gold standard’ of truth. At the heart of my work is my concern for the environment. I believe we need to partner with nature and to stop trying to dominate it. We have made many mistakes and if we are to remain on this planet we have a responsibility to rectify them. Science can lead the way, whether we stay or leave the planet.” 

The Dead Sea: The Lake and Its Setting

Coincidence Detection in the Nervous System