We humans have complicated relationships with the trees in our lives.  Sometimes we write romantic poetry about our arboreal intimates; othertimes, we chop them down to improve the 'view'.

The human and arboreal species are interdependent for  survival:  we need them for clean air and water and we use them in a thousand  other ways.  They need us to preserve habitat, prevent acid rain and other toxins,  and manage the Earth in a sustainable manner. 

Their bark is a skin:    protection, yet vulnerable.

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For this installation, the bark was saved from the wood used to heat our home this winter. Those cords of woods were salvaged slash from a clear-cut.  The wire ropes are “skidder rope”, used  in the logging operation that clear-cut this DNR land.  Recycled inner-tube rubber  references  the complex issues of petroleum and transportation which face our  world.

And the birds:  what do the birds represent, to you?