Artwork available for exhibit
Trees of Memory Future is a large-scale, 12-panel textile installation work about the impact of climate change on Pacific Northwest native trees and forests. To the extent possible, the 20” x 72” fabric panels use rescued and repurposed materials, with techniques such as fabric collage, hand and machine stitching, art crochet, and photography.
This project was initially developed in a Centrum Port Townsend artist residency and during my time as the first artist-in-residence for the Issaquah Arts Sanctuary. In April 2025, the completed project had its first exhibit at the Historic Shell Station in Issaquah, sponsored by the Downtown Issaquah Association. (exhibit photo by Ian McCrone)
The panels are suitable for hanging on a gallery wall, however, they are best viewed when hanging from the ceiling or on standalone display panels to allow a walk-through experience. Either installation type offers viewers immersion in the deep presence and layered meaning that can be found in local forests.
This installation will also help viewers understand the potential futures for forests...from current vibrancy to decline to opportunities for resilience and rebirth. It asks viewers to consider questions such as: What is the future of our beloved trees? What if they become only a memory? How can we create new futures for them?
See a video walk-through of the exhibit on the window below or at this link: Watch on YouTube
Feedback from Exhibit Visitors
I learned so much from seeing these trees.
Very nicely done; a really effective way to present the message.
Beautiful art. The ghost trees are really powerful.
I love that there’s a positive message about solutions.
Your artwork is just a delight and so important, especially for children to see.
This exhibit is sobering, but so timely and important. Keep putting your message out.
Panel Sets
The Trees of Memory Future artwork is grouped into three primary panel sets:
Trees Now: Our current view of the native Western Redcedar, Big Leaf Maple, Douglas Fir, and Sitka Spruce
Ghost Trees: How these trees might become only memories in the landscape
Potential Futures: Some of the ways to preserve native trees in the face of climate change
Recommended Exhibit Venue and Programming
This artwork is intended for exhibit in a museum or community art center in Western Washington or Western Oregon. It can be shown as a standalone exhibit or as part of a group show with a suitable theme. It also presents a strong visual message when it is displayed with my Rootedness set of art quilts.
I am happy to discuss additional programming related to the exhibit. Options include: An artist talk/reception, a children’s story time delivered by the Forest Lady, a tree-theme art collage workshop, or a guided walk in a nearby forest.
Contact me at creabunda @ hotmail.com for more information on exhibiting my artwork and scheduling the associated programs.
When I am among the trees…They give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
Mary Oliver, poet
