The Tree
Autzen Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 2004
In 2004, we put an addition onto our home and we had to cut down our tree. Our children called this tree Grandfather Maple. We had a swing on it and it was great for climbing. Where its larger branches met, there was a space just big enough for a ten-year-old to sit and read a book. In the fall, we had tremendous leaf piles for running through and for making leaf houses. This exhibition was a memorial for our beloved tree.
The Tree, 2004
Maple tree stump, logs, twigs, branches, roots, leaves, mulch, seedlings, soil, clay pots
Installation approximately 25 x 35 x 10 feet
Trees are an important part of the architecture of daily life, affecting our emotions, attitudes, and well-being. I presented this giant in an interior space to illustrate its vulnerability to the needs of humans.
Fun facts about our big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum):
over 80 years old, over 75 feet tall, 50 foot canopy, 163 inch base circumference
Canopy, 2004
Photographs, muslin, tape, thread
10 x 20 feet
This photo collage is dedicated to the memory of Josey Peterson, whose photography expertise was essential to the quality of light in the images.
Big Leaf Maple Flowers and Seeds, 2004
Maple tree flowers, stems and seeds, padding, muslin
3 frames, 19.25 x 19.25 x 2 inches each
At the end of the exhibition, the logs were given to other homes for warmth and the seedlings were given to other families to plant.
Photos: Aaron Johanson
