Speaking with Trees
I admit it: I am passionate about trees. There is so much symbology and tradition related to these incredible beings - too much to even touch on here. I have been using the evocative symbol of the oak tree, with its root structure, to process our complex history here in California and in the United States.
Heritage Oak (16 x 20) - The tree is a Black Oak, a deciduous tree that is native to California, and it is painted on pages from "California: Health, Pleasure, and Residence" (1878). Here I honor two important threads of influence in my work: design motifs from Southwest native traditions and Celtic themes from my own European ancestors.
Heritage Tree: Scarlet Oak (24 x 30) - I'm still working through responses to our shared heritage, both here in California and in the greater US context. This tree is painted on pages from "Universal History of the United States" (1830s). The scarlet oak is native to the Eastern US. Its sturdy taproot makes this oak particularly resilient.
California Oak (in private collection) - This is another work on the 1878 travelogue. These pages give advice on how to select and manage laborers. The earnest way that it encourages exploitation is why the roots on this tree are painted red. We need to remember where we come from. On a positive note, the leaves are shiny silver, reflecting a more positive future.