The Folly Tree Arboretum Reflection: Refusal to Compile

Inspired by Tucker Marder’s talk, where he talked about how the arboretum serves the purpose of preserving individual specimen of trees that are of historical importance, or trees with abnormality that would traditionally be undesirable. I was especially inspired by this tree that instead of growing upward, decided to crawl along the ground. I think it showed the defiance and diversity in the evolutionary process.

This semester I have been experimenting with new materials, one which is dichroic film. Dichroic film both reflect and let through light in different wavelengths. As a result, they have an ever changing, and bright color, this reminded me of some of the “information art” created by Laurie Frick regarding DNA snippets. I painted different shades of letters, to symbolize the genetic code. In the center, where the two films created the gap; as the audience could anticipate more letters filling the space, those letters instead break free and wiggle their way on to the floor. The letters are in bright red, filled with question and exclamation marks, like error codes in a program, yet it is crawling out of its box, where endless possibilities await.
The letters are also painted in different directions, to make an interesting viewing experience both from the panel’s shadow and reflection.