This series of work went into an installation for my BFA senior thesis, depicting a mythology inspired atrium. In preparation for this project I read over 80 books on mythology based on trees.
The atrium contained a series of sprouts and 4 larger trees, each tree focusing on a major theme found in my research: 1) trees as related to cyclical thinking and origin myths, 2) trees as related to houses of divinity and religious icons 3) trees as related to beauty, magic and ritual, and 4) trees as related to womyn.
Each tree had an accompanying chart that mapped out the visual references made on the trees to the stories that they referred to. In addition I compiled, illustrated and bound a book that included all the mythological and cultural references.
Each tree was "planted" in a series of four fabrics silk screened with mythology relating to planting; 1) earth and planting related to the cycle of life and death, 2) earth and planting related to hair, 3) earth and planting related to beauty, and 4) water.
1 and 2) Installation shots of Reclaiming Our Storytelling Traditions Spring 2004, Mixed Media
3) Series of Sprouts
Spring 2004
Tea tins, spices, teas, dirt, human hair, yarn, thread
Varied Sizes (approx. 5”h*5”w*5”d)
4) Trees as Related to Cyclical
Thinking and Origin or Creation Myths (or The Emmanuel Tree)
Fall 2003
Wood, rice paste, human hair, cloth, wire, yarn, clay, paper mache, beads
2'h*1'w*1'd
5 and 6) Details of The Emmanuel Tree
7 and 8) Trees as Related to
Houses of Divinity (or Tree House of Divinity)
Fall 2004
Wood, stone, cement, hair, cloth, paper mache, wire, clay, yarn, chimes,
moss
3'h*1'w*1'd
9) Detail of Tree House of Divinity
10) Trees as Related to Beauty, Magic
and Ritual (or The Solstice Bonsai )
Spring 2004
Wood, clay, hair, cloth, yarn, beads, paper mache, wire, moss
2.5'h*10"w*10"d
11 and 12) Details of The Solstice Bonsai
13 and 14) Trees as Related to Womyn
(or Hamadryad)
Spring 2004
Wood, Human hair, wire, yarn, paper mache, clay
2'h*1.5'w*1.5'd
15) Detail of Hamadryad