WHY RED TREES EXISTS THE COLOR RED PHASE I: RED TREES, THE ELEMENT OF EARTH, PRIVATE WOUNDED LAND PHASE II: THE ELEMENT OF SUN, SHROUDS INSIDE PHASE III: THE ELEMENT OF AIR, SHROUDS ON THE WATER TOWER PHASE IV: THE ELEMENT OF WATER, PURIFICATION OF THE SHROUDS PHASE V: THE ELEMENT OF ETHER, RED TREES OUTSIDE THE ELEMENTS OF NATURE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHY TREES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PHYSICAL LAWS OF NATURE THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN FORESTS THE DEFINING OF NATURE HISTORY OF PAPER CONDITIONS OF THE WORLD FORESTS SOLUTIONS THE TREE METAPHOR THE TREE THROUGH HISTORY

	WHY RED TREES EXISTS I was moved to see shaven hillsides on roadways listed as “scenic routes” I was saddened to learn of forests of lost grandeur I was touched by the loss of such life force I was alerted to the fragility of the family tree I was brought to question my values and the purpose of art I was inspired to the condition and excelerated change in our environment I was seeking to find meaning in the new millennium
THE COLOR RED -The color red: passion, love, growth, courage, warning, blood -the color of the ancient sun was a deep burning red -The Pyramid of the Sun was originally painted bright red to glow under the rays of the sun -Torri, the entrance to Shinto temples, are made of whole trees that are painted red -One of the first and important exports from America was red dye, called cochineal, made from dried cactus-eating insects
PHASE I: THE ELEMENT OF EARTH, PRIVATE WOUNDED LAND -Includes the element of wood -1 year durations, symbolizing completed man-made cycles of 12 months. -the shrouding woman was once an occupation. She would make house calls to assist families in putting the dead to rest. To bring awareness to that which is kept secret; clear cuts are often shielded behind a strip of forest along roads and highways. -The hidden wound on private land relates to 100 Tears, part 1, fragile and vulnerable.
PHASE II: THE ELEMENT OF SUN, SHROUDS INSIDE Each shroud is: -Imprinted with a unique sun-bleached impression of each tree -A visual record of that which is invisible, the spirit of the tree -Cloth that covered each stump produced markings which make reference to the shroud of Turin. -Punctured with nail holes that further reference the death of Christ and the stigmata -A bleached out pattern that resemble the gesture of Chinese characters that are inspired by the elements of nature With the shrouds installed inside it was apparent, by their flowing movement in the natural currents of air, that they had to go outside again
PHASE III: THE ELEMENT OF AIR, THE WATER TOWER -Remnants of nature are moved to an urban environment giving public exposure to the hidden wounded land -The shrouds hang on a functional water tower, a testament to the value of preserving a historical element of the city horizon, which in most cases has been lost -Standing several stories high, and lit from within, the shrouded water tower resembles a handmade Chinese lantern -the installation appears as a night-light, a beacon for direction		The origional Star-Spangeled Banner that survived the September 1841 bombing of Baltimore harbor's Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy
-The water tower structure is made of metal and honors the Chinese element of metal -Exposure to the elements softens the fabric of the shrouds, causing the man-made material to feel like the natural fiber of silk. -Exposure to the wind caused many shrouds to be torn, reminiscent of war flags; scars of battle -10 days on the water tower, the number of completeness or finality. -360 shrouds are needed to cover the stand; 360 degrees is a perfect sphere, the world -The shrouds were cut into irregular sizes, as opposed to evenly measured. On the water tower the shrouds needed to hang in varied widths from narrow to wide. -references part two of 100 Tears, part two, the public

PHASE IV: THE ELEMENT OF WATER, PURIFICATION -Water is a symbol of grace -Outward purification serves is symbolic of inward purification -The shrouds interact with the element of water of a pristine lake, a serene area symbolic of rededication and commitment -The purification points to the worldwide cultural rituals of cleansing, full immersion and purification -Opens dialogue concerning contemporary water conditions -Points to the travel of pollutants from one location to another -In the Shinto religion rites of purification pacify negative forces and strengthen positive ones. -In Maine the site of Twin Lakes, actually one lake, metaphoriclly lends itself to the merging of dualities -The first selected site, Rainbow Lake, was approachable only by plane or 14 mile hike, and owned by the corporation that runs the local paper mill and controls the water levels of the lakes.			Lowell's Poem The Washers of the Shroud
PHASE V: THE ELEMENT OF ETHER, RED TREES OUTSIDE -The shrouds reference Tibetan Prayer Flags, prayers dissolved in the wind extend to fill all of space. -Like incense, bells, and chimes good merit is carried by the wind across the countryside; objects activated by the the natural energy of the wind create a spiritual vibration that harmonizes -The origin of prayer flags (Ru-dar or banner) was originally militaristic to identify and alert nomadic clans for movement -Prayer flags are a mix of Bon Tradition (pre-Buddhist Tibet) and Buddhist spiritual symbolism. Shamanic Bonpo priests used primary colored flags with sacred symbols in healing ceremonies to pacify negative forces and invoke the blessings of the positive. The mantras, composed by Buddhist monks, printed
on the flags are rich in Vajrayana philosophy. -When raising prayer flags proper motivation is important and should be void of ego-centered attitudes. Intentions should be focused to benefit all beings everywhere. -The Victory Banner symbolizes the victory of wisdom over ignorance and the overcoming of obstacles and disturbances. Goals are accomplished -"Dar Chen", a long narrow prayer flag on a pole, is to create benefit for all sentient beings. "Dar" means to increase life, "Chen" means all sentient beings. -A grove of bamboo makes mention of this abundant resource
THE ELEMENTS OF NATURE The elements of nature are interconnected, each contributing to the existence of another. Western elements: air, fire, water, earth Eastern elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth Chinese Elements: air, fire, water, wood and metal Earth- The underside of the shroud that cloaked the stump. Wood -the cut tree Fire (Sun)- The upper side of the shroud is lightened by the sun. Wind (Air)- On the water tower urban air passes through the cloth. Metal -the water tower stand Water- the shrouds are revivied and purified in water and dried on the rocks Ether - the shrouds disipate in the breeze, returning to the space where everything is connected. Petrified wood - Wood turned to rock, as hard as metal Millions of year old trees, trees as long as 200 feet and 10 feet diameter, have turned into rock composed of quartz crystals. During the Triassic Period tres were preserved by being saturated with water and buried in mud, silt, ash, sediment and other debris. The process of permineralization began when minerals entered the wood and filled the pores. Eventually, as the trees covering eroded, a hard object was recreated in detail of the finest grain. Color depends on the minerals in the area. The Petrified Forest in northeast Arizona has one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood.
DIFFERENT LOCATIONS -An art that spans to regions; Oregon on the west coast, Chicago in the Midwest and Maine on the east coast -A work of art that responds to unique places, a hidden wounded area of destruction, a public area of exposure and then a serene area of peace. -The transitions to outside, inside and outside again follow the discovery of "self", the "I" and "thou" perspective -Red Trees records the transitions of empathy, acknowledgment, intention, commitment and action
WHY TREES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PHYSICAL LAWS OF NATURE -Trees keep our air clean, provide shade and moisture to the environment. Trees add nutrients, secure top soil, prevent floods and protect and purify waterways. Each type of forests is an ecosystem of bio diversity that supports the things that we rely on to live.
THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN FORESTS -1864 Northern Pacific Railroad Land Grant, signed by President Lincoln, allowed land use for construction and upkeep of the railroad. -Land was granted in alternative square miles, thus creating the checkerboard pattern. -The law required that the land be open to settlement, sold at public auction, within 5 years of the railroad's completion. -The railroads defaulted on agreements and sold significant land holdings for profit, often large vasts of land to single buyers. In the early twentieth century, some remaining lands were "revisited", or taken back, by the federal government
due to this corporate fraud. Revested lands have since come under the management of the forest service or the bureau of land management. -The consequence of this is that significant land, timber and mineral resources were lost to corporate greed. On November 21, 1864 President Lincoln wrote to Colonel William F. Elkins:
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the county will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment sore anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war."
THE DEFINING OF NATURE -Depletion of forest is evidence of lack of knowledge -Todays language objectify women and nature; rape of the land, virgin forest, mother earth, timber instead of trees, harvest, wildlife management, lawn instead of grass. -Language reinforces hierarchical behavior to justify dominance and exploitation -It is not what we see but how we see it. The origin of words are patriarchal in construct and falsifies women's experience -we create the world we live in through language "What we call Man's power over Nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with Nature as its instrument." -C.S. Lewis
CONDITIONS OF THE WORLD FORESTS Trees are: -Destroyed for vengeance and oppression, uprooted and bulldozed in agricultural land -Slashed and burned to make way for fields where most soil can support only 2 harvests -cut down to create grazing areas where cattle are crowded onto land that cannot support them -largest are taken for consumption and become paper products that are disposed of after use. -Old growth has all but disappearing, 2nd growth is shrinking.... -Our forests have been altered and are no longer natural diverse ecosystems. -Cut forests contain dry brush fuel vulnerable to fire; no moisture due to disrupted watersheds. -Government's environmental policy opens up national forests for commercial logging and pushes for domestic oil exploration in protected areas. Fire prevention plans, titled the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, encourage logging of older trees rather than the more smaller flammable trees (those that were planted to close together in narrow rows.)
HISTORY OF PAPER Paper was invented over 2000 years ago by a process that uses water to create hydrogen bonds between cellulose fibers, a strong interwoven material. All aper was made by hand and mostly using the fiber of hemp. Both the Gutenberg Bible (15th century) and the King James Bible (17th century) were printed on hemp-based papers. All paper in the West was made from hemp, linen and cotton"rags". The invention of movable type and the printing of books created a new demand for paper. The first commercially produced paper from ground wood was is in 1863, when paper making machines were being invented. The beginning of deforestation of the world can be traced to this time. The use of hemp, papyrus, flax, linen, kenaf, mulberry, esparto, corn stock and rice straw residue, etc. show that paper does not need to come from forests of any type. These agricultural fibers make a stronger, acid-free paper with a longer shelf life, and costing less than half to process then wood, and can be recycled without losing integrity. Industrial hemp was a huge export of America up until the the late 1940’s. Hemp prohibition is a hugely important part of the concentration of capital wealth, the monopoly triad of logging, cotton and oil companies. Cotton is a far less durable fiber that grows less than two feet tall in a season and is the most pesticide-intensive crop.
SOLUTIONS -Change our habits of consumption, land use and care to reduce our dependence on depleted resources. -Fast growing crops such as hemp, bamboo, and papyrus can be grown domestically to support new economic development. -Consider transportation costs, both financially and environmentally, to protect indigenous ecosystems, as with the case in China and India where bamboo forests are threatened. INDUSTRIAL HEMP: Industrial hemp takes 60 days to grow 15 to 25 feet (a tree takes decades), is pest resistant, has a natural weed suppressant and improves soil conditions. Hemp's fiber length and strength make it optimal. Hemp hurds produce four times the paper per acre as wood and more than a dozen times as much textile fiber as cotton. Its pulp is processed with hydrogen peroxide rather than bleach or sulfuric acid and is a renewable industrial material, easily three times or more. The whole plant is used to make an abundance of products: textiles, paper, foods, building materials, personal hygiene products and much more. Once the food staple made from hemp seed called "gruel". Rudolf Diesel invented his engine to run on hemp oil and Henry Ford made his car bodies with hemp fiber for strength. In World War I the air bomber bodies were also made of hemp fiber for strength and protection. BAMBOO -Bamboo can live in many climates and grow on all the continents accept Antarctica. Bamboo takes 59 days to grow as tall as 60 feet and has a regenerating capability that contributes to its strength and survival. Bamboo is a woody, evergreen grass and one of the most versatile plants in the world. High in cellulose content and strong, over one billion people in the world live in bamboo houses. In Asia and Pan America, bamboo is also an important food staple.
THE TREE METAPHOR The tree connects heaven and earth as it grows equally in both directions. The roots cling to the ground and the branches grow to reach the sunlight. The tree is a metaphor of knowledge, the branches being the paths of learning that reach out in different directions. The tree is seen as a ladder, and the physical act of seeking, a journey from earth to heaven. Today, deforestation is a metaphor for lack of knowledge.
THE TREE THROUGH HISTORY The tree is the largest plant on earth and has been held sacred for its primal creative force since prehistoric history. The World Tree- Widespread shaman ritual, seven steps are carved into the trunk of a tree for climbing the axis or center of world and to pass through the seven heavens (7 visible planets) The Carved Tree- Totem poles are constructed from whole trees. Figures carved onto the poles symbolize a clan's history to inspired respect. Varying beliefs depict diverse relationships between the worlds of humans, animals, super natural beings, plants and landscapes.
The Huluppu Tree- The Sumerian tale where Gilgamesh helps Inanna, the queen of heaven, to rid the tree in the holy garden of the serpent, Lilith, and the Zu bird (or Anzu bird). Moslim Lote Tree- Symbolic of heavenly bliss, a remote tree that marks a boundery of human understanding of the spiritual knowledge of the world. Also, said to be the same species of tree to be used in making the crown of thorns for Christ. The Sacred Bohi or Bo Tree- Siddhartha Gautama was enlightened at the base of a tree and became Buddha. Many Monasteries are built in forests where Buddhists are in harmony with nature. The Wish-Fulfilling Tree- The Kalpa Taru is the promise of Hinduism, in the spiritual world of Vrndavana the tree produces what is desired. Kalpa (desire), Taru (tree). The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Tree- In Tibetan Buddhism known for its power to generate bliss and enlightenment within all who absorb the principles of Tantra to create "infinite compassion and continuity". The Kien-Mou- Chinese "Tree of Life" growing on the side of the mount Kuen-Luen, a terrestrial paradise The Cosmic Tree (The Cosmic Cross)- Mayan, the beginning of time (the lining up of the planets) the end of time (full cosmic cycle completed) is where the winter solstice sun passes over the Galactic Center. Tree Religions- In the Old Testament, trees are associated with religion of the Canaanite and the honoring of the mother goddess Asherah. Also, altars of carved wooden poles were were built and dedicated to Baal on mountain tops. The Religion of the Forest- The Shinto forest, (the entrance in made of whole trees painted red) worship and respect of nature The Tree of Life- In Genesis (and reappears again in Revelations) the tree is a vital life source and grows at the centre of the Garden of Eden The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil- In Genesis and could be fatal if eaten from. In the Gnostic (knowledge) Gospels this same tree is forbidden for different reasons, and the serpent (once known as good symbol) came to help. The Oak Tree and The Golden Fleece- Jason and the Argonauts search for a prized treasure to claim, the golden fleece that hangs in the oak tree. (In the ancient days of mining gold actual lambskin was placed in flowing streams to catch flecks of gold. The pelts were then hung to dry in trees.) Sacred Groves- Worship took place in forests where the branches created a canopy and the light filter in. This surrounding influenced the design of churches, especially Romanesque and Gothic architecture, where the interiors of vaulted ceilings and patterned windows were inspired by the forest. Chartres Cathedral was built on a sacred grove of the Druids. The Tree Alphabet- Ogam, the alphabet of the Druid, consists of thirteen consonants corresponding to the 13 moon cycles of the year and named after species of trees. The Battle of the Trees- Celtic, Welsh transformational poem of the 14th-century Book of Taliesin; a great mythological battle fought by an army of magically animated trees in the 'the Caledonian Forest' The Cutting of the Elm- Historic, France, 800 year old elm battled over. The Metallic Trees- Alchemy; The extraordinary process whereby a seed grew into a tree is how God imbued the Earth and cosmos with intelligence and meaning, can be seen in experiences of transforming mater. The Tree of Diana- Science, a dendrite blooming crystal made with silver and mercury. metals are referred to by the names of planets, silver is called "luna," the moon", hence the association with Diana, the goddess of the moon. (The dendrite cracking in certain metallic alloys follows the patterning of the Golden Mean.) The Sacred Tree- In the Kabbalah, the book of Jewish mysticism follows the patterns of the sacred geometry; rotating fields linked to the spirals that illustrate the movement of consciousness from one level of reality to another; the transition to a higher harmonic. Creation is a process that includes 10 divine numbers and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet that make up "32 paths of secret wisdom."