Angel Oak
As is often the case in my artistic practice, the impetus for creating new work is an object, experience, or location that solicits a deeply felt connection. My artwork, however, typically morphs into something entirely unexpected, far beyond what I initially set out to create.
Intrigued by the lore of the Angel Oak tree, considered to be one of the country’s oldest living trees in Charleston, South Carolina, my visit became the seed for this body of work.
Magnificent in structure, overwhelming in stature and all encompassing in its presence, I photographed the Angel Oak tree with the intention of leaning in to, and even amplifying, its grandeur in an effort to convey to the viewer the breathtaking feeling of elegance, power, embrace, and quite frankly, safety. Photographed in different light conditions, endless angles and perspectives, the images I left with were truly powerful. Cutting out by hand the subject of these images, I continued the process of art making. Consistent with my practice, I saved every last sliver and scrap cut away from the image. And yet, the end result was underwhelming, expected and flat. There was no there, there.
So I stepped back, walked away and mulled, over and over in my head, how to move forward. The answer was in the bag of scraps under my worktable. That was where I found the energy, light, and movement from the original images. I had stripped this venerable tree of its power.
By sculpting these bits and pieces into mixed-media works and photographed collages, my Angel Oak tree experience came to life. The interplay of each individualized element within the photographs, combined with layering and line drawing, created a sense of depth and altered perspective. Capturing and reimagining the electrifying energy and awesome power of the Angel Oak tree feels representative of what we all are fighting to regain and protect in the world today.
