Now Our Minds Are One

Acrylic, 20’ x 20’ x 17’, 2024

“When you come to realize everything is connected, there is togetherness. We are not alone,” Goloborotko says. This sentiment is echoed by her newest work, Now Our Minds Are One (2024), the colossal and colorful structure unveiled for the first time at The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. For the making of this piece, the artist embarked on an intensive journey of artistic exploration and academic discovery, employing new techniques and technologies, embracing the use of new materials, and thoroughly researching endangered species sourced from artificial intelligence to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The monumental pyramid-like installation is anchored in ancient knowledge and serves as a symbol of essential wisdom and contemporary urgency. A few years ago, the artist came across a traditional greeting to the natural world by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, known as the “Words That Come Before All Else” or the “Thanksgiving Address.(1)” This greeting is recited daily to express gratitude for the interconnectedness of all living beings and the natural world and reflects these nation’s deep reverence for nature and their belief in the importance of living in harmony.

The discrete pieces, altogether in their abundance, become one whole: one body, one mind, in unison, like a murmuration or a school of fish. The work is a manifestation of Goloborotko’s commitment to environmental activism. Composed of thousands of cutout symbols representing endangered species, the pyramid serves as a stark reminder of humanity’s impact on the natural world. The eighteen vertical layers correspond to the eighteen entities of the Address: the People, the Earth Mother, the Waters, the Fish, the Plants, the Food Plants, the Medicine Herbs, the Animals, the Trees, the Birds, the Four Winds, the Thunderers, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Enlightened Teachers, the Creator, the Closing Words (covering anything omitted); without any hierarchy. Goloborotko wants the pyramid to be “a symbol, a sign, like a deer crossing” she says, “an alert call.” Through meticulous research and a deeply personal belief, she implores viewers to recognize the necessity of preserving biodiversity and taking collective action. In essence, Sheila Goloborotko is an “enlightened teacher” herself, “when we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people,” and her work serves as an urgent call to action, empowering viewers to confront pressing issues with empathy and responsibility, and inspiring hope for a more harmonious future.