Roots 2024
Roots was the stepping stone for my current projects about forests.
The main idea for this project was to answer the question, why do I have a connection to trees?
Before I even started photographing or thinking of a plan, I thought about my childhood, the way my mother taught me that all plants have a personality unique to them. Thinking about my mother and my beliefs I decided I needed to revisit the trees I grew up with in my hometown.
I revisited and photographed three trees, using a 4x5 large format camera, that have been with me from past-to-present.
The Elm tree was there to greet me to and from school during Kindergarten year. This tree is still prevalent in my life, walking past it everyday on walks with my dogs.
The Pine tree was a transition tree when I moved back to Bentonville and transitioned to the school next to the Elm tree school. The Pine was now the tree to greet me as the Elm did.
The Birch tree is the tree that grew up with me when I moved back. It's located in our backyard and was just a kin when we bought the house. The Birch watched me go through middle school to graduating high school, and watched me loose my first dogs and then get my current dogs.
I photographed each tree based on it's personality and unique qualities. I focused on what type of bark it had, leaves, and seeds it produced. The way I photographed relates to the order in which they were hung.
Roots was exhibited at the East Gallery, Kansas City Art Institute.
Large dibond prints hung up in a way to show the trees unique features and personality.
East Building Gallery