Tree Hugger
Materials: brass coated chain, padlock, twine, brass wire, bronze, reclaimed cottonwood (populus deltoides)
Dimensions: worn on the body
I have an image in my mind, put there by the media: an activist with long, wavy hair and bell-bottoms has chained themselves to a tree in protest—perhaps because a corporation has bought the land and plans to remove the tree for development. They criticize and laugh at this "hippie" for their misguided view of a world built on economics, claiming the tree will give them nothing in return for their solidarity.
In my experience, the tree is a constant. Regardless of what is chained or nailed to its trunk, it persists through time and tribulation. This wearable sculpture was born from the question: “What if the tree chained itself to me?” It certainly feels as though my fate is entwined with the Cottonwood.