One Tree

“ONE TREE” a series where each site-specific installation is constructed from a single fallen tree recognizing the interconnectedness of the person and the site. These environmental interventions, ‘personages’ become an homage and/or personification of individuals where their interconnectedness brings significance to a particular place and time. Cultures throughout the world recognize and designate, Sacred Trees’.  The tree is perhaps our most important partner on the planet. When a great tree falls, just as a human being, much is lost. When a tree falls, a transformation occurs, and a new generated form becomes an incremental step in the greater continuum!

Sacagawea,  a site-specific environmental installation in Charlottesville, VA, constructed from a full grown oak tree that fell in a storm.  The piece was made from sections of the tree removed, milled into slabs and reassembled back into the tree.

 The oak tree was a small sapling during the time when Thomas Jefferson lived at Montecello and orchestrated the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06.   This ONE TREE piece is name for Sacagawea, a Native American, daughter of a Shoshone Chief, part of the Lemhi -Shoshone people, accompanied Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery the first expedition to open the frontier westward traveling thousands of miles from the Hidatsa Village in North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean. She was significant asset in numerous ways to the overall success of the mission speaking several native languages, sharing knowledge of edible plants and passable routes, making tribal connections along the journey and providing opportunities to barter for horses and safe passage.The National American Woman Suffrage Association adopted Sacagawea as a symbol of women’s worth and independence, erecting many statues and plagues in her memory and doing much to recount her accomplishments.        

Housatonic at Stockbridge, a site-specific environmental installation at Chesterwood National Historic Trust, the home of Daniel Chester French, constructed from two full growth standing dead Scott pine trees located in the garden yard.  The trees were cut leaving the base of one of the Scott pines and the body of the piece is milled into all the parts of the sculpture and reassembled on site re- connected to the top of the tree. 

The Housatonic at Stockbridge is named after a composition written by Charles Ives, composer and a contemporary of Daniel Chester French who created the No 1 Orchestral Set with three movements inspired by three locations in New England. The third moment “The Housatonic at Stockbridge”references a walk that Charles Ives took with his newly married wife, Harmony on the Housatonic River, in June 1908. Ives composed an original, earthy, down home, visionary, bold and unique composition that captures the atmosphere and image of mist and fog rolling over swirling water and builds to the unexpected climax of the rapids.  This is music and our sculpture reflect this river environment.

Emese’s Dream is an installation in Tatabanya Hungary made from 2 native pine trees milled into the elements and reassembled in the gallery of the Museum of Tatabanya. 

The piece is named for Emese's Dream,  the legend concerning the conception of Prince Álmos, is one of the earliest known tales from Hungarian history. According to tradition, Emese is the mother of the Magyar royal dynasty, which sprang from one of the seven original Magyar tribes. Hence, she has been credited as "the mother of all ethnic Hungarians".

Regeneration 2006, Naphal 2008 and Sprout 2009 are three iterations of site-specific environmental installation using a single full growth standing dead Hemlock tree over 4 years.

Regeneration, Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood 2006, Chesterwood National Historic Trust, Stockbridge, MA  2006

Naphal, Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood 2008, Lillian Heller’s Curator’s Award, Chesterwood National Historic Trust, Stockbridge, MA 2008

Sprout, Contemporary Sculpture at Chesterwood 2009, Berkshire Living Viewer’s Choice Award, Chesterwood National Historic Trust, Stockbridge, MA  2009