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| Chicago, Illinois |
Sprawling cement jungles girded with steel beams and
bejeweled with shimmering glass pay homage to man’s industrial spirit. They reflect his desire to create, control,
and reinvent his surroundings. Since
biblical days people have constructed massive feats of architecture to
demonstrate their power and prowess.
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| Nehantic State Park - Niantic, Connecticut |
Nature’s demonstration of her majesty stands in stark
contrast to man’s cement jungles.
Remember your last woodland hike or stroll through a lush city
park. You undoubtedly encountered trees
along your path. Some were tall, lean,
and supple while others were swayed, knotty, and worn. But nearly all of them stood with their arms
stretched towards heaven. In seasons of rebirth these limbs were draped
with emerald foliage. In seasons of
harvest they were clothed with brilliant, glowing colors revealed only as they struggled
to maintain their relationship with the sun.
In seasons of desolation their naked limbs harbored beneath their surface
sprouts of hope. No matter the season, these trees pay homage
to their energy source with their uplifted arms.
The journey of man
and nature are interconnected. Ancient
people respected this relationship by learning from nature how to thrive simply
on the energy provided by the Creator.
Trees were a recurring symbol in ancient religions for creation and
death. They signified both joy and pain. They inspired royalty and commoners.
The Trees of Life Series employs this ancient symbol
to tell the story of human celebration, growth, struggle, and pain. Its trees are a metaphor for life’s many journeys. Just as the trees in a forest have a story to
tell, so do the creations in the Trees of Life Series. Their stories begin in the hands of the
artist, but unfold in the mind of the observer.
As we embark on a new year, I am striving to
push my art to explore textiles in ways I have never experienced. The Trees
of Life Series allows me to experiment with the sculptural qualities of
textiles. Please share with me your
insights as I introduce each piece in the series.
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