Something That Could Know Sculpture

This sculpture began with an ailing juniper tree in my yard. I thought it would be fairly easy to remove, but as I worked really hard to dislodge its roots, I realized how tenaciously and intelligently connected the tree was with its environment. I had a funny feeling that I was becoming part of the tree’s system even as I was removing it. I knew I wanted to create a sculptural world with the tree I had extracted playing a major role. Staged in a table-like frame, the sculpture is a mini-drama about the exploitation of nature, resistance, and mutual risk. With roots above the trunk and branches—in the stance of an animal—the tree meets the gaze of a figure made of cover tubing and cement, perched on the edge of the table. The table is tilted and the top is a partial chequerboard leaving many squares to fall through. What I hope viewers will take away is the sense that life is a joint undertaking among different types of beings and our destinies are all tied up together. It’s an emotional piece, full of wonder at the interconnectedness between forms of life. It honestly confronts how the natural environment suffers, but leaves open the sense of possibilities, new ways to think, and steer action for a common good.