Storm chaos leads to self-reflection
This residency made me think about what it means to be home, and how we often lose sight of the bigger picture because we are too focused on the details. “See the Forest Through the Trees” was born from a six-word story challenge that became the groundwork for this project.
Understanding the landscape and choosing the materials quickly became the most humbling part of the process. Once I chose and worked out how to use the construction netting and nylon rope, I was ready to get started. This project was one long gut-punch after another and eventually THE breakthrough.
I envisioned these five tree panels staked directly into the ground. Due to challenges with their size and tough ground conditions, I had to reconsider my approach. I decided to hang the panels. A nod to curtains, clothes drying on a line, a feeling like those of the comforts of home. However, my first thought once I saw them hanging was of photo prints or negatives drying on a line. This connection resonated with me. When two mediums I work with begin to reveal themselves, even metaphorically, it confirms that I need to keep moving forward, “sempre em frente.”
The process reminded me that roots are not always about staying in one place. Sometimes, they are about adapting, finding another way to hold on, and recognizing the bigger picture when the original plan no longer works.
