*Uproot, 2005-2006
To understand my displacement as a result of Hurricane Katrina, I uprooted a 25’ incense cedar tree in Southern California, near the San Jacinto National Forest. The entire root system was excavated for one week before the tree lost grip and fell. A series of gestures, documents, objects and community events followed in the process of the project.
Survey (video still from Uproot). A documented performance of marking the cedar tree with a stick of chalk. I walk around and around until I was too dizzy to stand up.
Shovel and Hare, (work site documentation).
Earthcast for Displacement Artifact (documentation of building earth cast base using the displaced earth from the work site).
Displacement Artifact, Uprooted cedar tree, earth cast concrete base, and rebar. Parks Gallery, Idyllwild, CA.
"Show your wounds," A performance in which I removed the roots from the cedar and wore them on display next to the stump of the cedar as it remained in the space. Edition of photos.
"When you are cut by a knife, bandage the knife--show your wounds" Joseph Beuys
“Sharing the story of bark” document from a performance in which I operated the Accounting for Rings of Stories Machine printing black ink from the bark of the tree to ticker tape. As I cranked the machine I recounted stories of displacement..
Uproot,artist book and DVD of Uproot. Edition of 5. Archival paper, xerox transfer on vellum.
Burring Uproot, A ceremony to burry the ash remains of the cedar tree. It included, ash, chalk dust, hydrogen peroxide, orange peels, and a web of strings over the hole.