the ghost of john muir

In the piece called, “The Ghost of John Muir,” Kline-Misol places the diffuse figure of John Muir emerging from the text of his essay on “Spirit-Wings”, in which he describes his remarkable imaginary journey in the deep wood, should he, ”be granted all the list of attributes generally bestowed on spirits, to go study Natures laws in all their crossing and unions.”

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The middle portrait panel is flanked by two paintings of tree groupings at dusk in a full moon. This triptych includes three panels. The middle panel is 70x40 and the flanking panels measure 70x50. As one unit it measures 140x70.

 

John Muir (1838-1914) was a strong advocate as conservationist throughout his lifetime. Born in Scotland, he came to America early in his life. He hiked much of the American Wilderness alone without a gun. He is famous for his 1000 mile walk from Indiana to Georgia, then going by boat from Savannah to Fernandina, and eventually taking time in California where he fell in love with the Yosemite Valley. He founded the Sierra Club and discovered the Glacier Bay areas in Alaska. Throughout his life he kept journals of his “ramblings.” He has been called the “Most celebrated Celebrator of Nature in America.”