The Gumbo Limbo tree sheds its flaky bark in order to prevent colonization by parasitic insects. The Cecropia tree is the "pioneer species", venturing into eroded or burned lands to provide shade and restore the soil and initiate regrowth. Similarly, humans take up certain roles dependent on social and environmental movements in their generations. This installation questions how growth occurs while a person is affected by environments, decisions, circumstances, and the intersection between self and others. The installation itself is intended to "grow" and change each time it is exhibited, as a person changes when living in front of a compounding history.

Using botanical metaphors, the tapestry takes the form of an embroidered forest image to create an organic, anthropomorphic character which seeks to understand how it’s been formed. The audio projected from behind the tapestry includes fragments of the artist's voicemail recordings from the past decade and portions of individual interviews the artist conducted with open call participants and close friends. 

Add

Barabbas's Garden