Concentric, in collaboration with Juglans nigra
On a hot summer's day, while laying under the black walnut tree, one may notice that the leaves comprising the canopy make concentric circles of varying sizes. As summer gives way to fall, the black walnut looses its leaves. Its compound leaves drop the leaflets, and finally the rachis falls to the ground. These leaf stalks, the rachis, litter the ground below the tree, individual curves creating small circles, creating big circles, creating a complex path for the eye to discover shapes. This projects aims to distill the interesting pattern from the black walnut into a gallery setting, introducing the viewer to a new perspective and appreciation of the tree.
Abstract mobile, black walnut rachis, fishing line, scrap wood, a bit of spray paint. 1’ x 1’ x 3’, 2022. Collaborators: Ian Escher Vierck and Juglans nigra
Refugia: Temporal Topography
When a wildfire burns, it interacts with the landscape in a complex dance. In its wake it leaves a mosaic of damage in which some areas are severely burned while others remain unscathed. Patches that experience minimal impacts from a wildfire are called refugia. True to their name, these spaces serve as a refuge for organisms during a wildfire - but they serve an even more important role, too. As the process of recovery unfolds after a wildfire, these refugia landscapes serve as sources of regeneration and growth. Over time, seeds from the refugia will disperse into the burned landscape and new vegetation will grow. Together, these refugia form a network of recovery from which a new forest will be born.
Temporal Topology explores the network of recovery that emerged and will continue to develop after the Holiday Farm Fire, a fire that threatened many communities around Eugene. We identified refugia that survived the fire and represented them as 3D raised forms within a map of the extent of the Holiday Farm Fire. Through this piece, you can see the networks between refugia that will begin to emerge over time. We celebrate these resilient spaces and the hope they hold for our future.
Sheet wood, douglas fir bark chips, moss, lichen, spray paint, hot glue, and burn cream, 5’ x 8’ x 4’, 2022. Collaborators: Hannah Chapin, Celia Hensey, and Ian Escher Vierck
