Root Shadows
This work arises from observing closely the results of weather events in forests north of the Fraser River in BC, in the traditional territories of the Katzie, Kwantlen and Sto:lo peoples.
Done on repeated walks, the under-layer of ink drawings is part of a practice of building a relationship with a wooded area close to my home. Here, I also encountered many upturned trees that had been blown over by extreme wind, their roots helplessly in the air. Roots are a very intimate part of the tree: not normally seen, they are a place of subtle communication and nutrient exchange with surrounding trees and life forms.
Tree roots are not meant to have shadows. Yet here they were, revealing their beautiful contours. When we go to the forest and notice its beauty and serenity, how much do we also notice our own impact? How might being attentive to subtle changes - through repeated visits - help us be better stewards of the life there?
Ink on watercolour paper; tree roots coloured pencil and thread on velum
