Reading Forest Artwork

About the Artwork

We know that tree rings express the growth of trees, and that a history of wet and dry conditions, fires, and disease can be read in the rings. Taking this a step further, the artwork merges human voices with trees, expressing how interdependent we are.

Todd made drawings of imagined trees with earth pigments and ink. The drawings were be photographed and then printed on slip-resistant sheets and adhered to the pavement.

Phrases in the drawings invite reflection on what keeps societies and ecosystems healthy during times of change. Todd adapted the phrases from science papers, anthropology and religion books, poems and essays, and personal communications with everyday citizens and forest managers. Some phrases also come from Postcards to the Future Forest, six postcards of ecological processes that invite the public to imagine the future of forests in the Sierra.

This PDF document lists selected phrases used in the drawings and their sources.

About the Artist

Todd Gilens is a visual artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He uses writing, drawing, and photography to develop site-specific artworks that bring ecology themes into conversation with cultural values. His work has been seen on public transit vehicles, in botanical gardens, arts and conference centers, abandoned factories, and wilderness areas among other places. He holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University and his website is toddgilens.com.

This project is generously supported by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service, an equal opportunity provider. The National Forest Foundation is an equal opportunity provider.