Presently Treewhispers has entries/contributions that include text and/or imagery; some are simply magnificent examples of beautiful handmade paper. Some suggest tree rings, depict leaves or illustrate a personally significant tree; others are imprinted with a poem or a meaningful story relating to trees. You’re invited to join the forest by sending your flat handmade paper round with your tree story, poetry and/or art.
In answer to FAQ:
* Who can participate? Anyone with a tree story: artists, students, scientists, doctors and dendrologists—elders and wee ones, professional and novice. I’m convinced everyone has a tree story somewhere inside.
* What’s the deadline? Technically there is no deadline since the project is ongoing.
* Is there a theme? If you haven’t guessed it already, the theme is the tree—your personal stories, art, poetry, experiences relating to tree in any media on flat, round, handmade paper. For instance, ask yourself the questions: Did you ever climb a tree, plant a tree, have a favorite tree, or name a tree? Share your own personal connection to a tree whatever it may be. Sometimes simple stories are the most profound.
* Do I make my own paper rounds? You can or you can collaborate with a papermaker.
* How do I make handmade paper at home? Directions for simple papermaking using recycled paper are on the website. Sometimes groups gather for the purpose of papermaking for contributing as a group experience—especially on Arbor Day, Earth Day or Tu B’Shevat. Sometimes home-schoolers or scout troops make paper then gather the tree stories from another generational sector such as parents or grandparents. It’s another chance to be creative.
* What are the size requirements? There are no size restrictions—flat, round, handmade paper.
* How many rounds/contributions can I make? You can make one or multiples. It takes many to make a tree! If you do make multiples or have a batch to send, please do not bind them. They will be bound in house specifically for the installation.
* Will they be returned? No, the work becomes the property of Treewhispers and will not be returned. The project is ongoing and the work will travel with the installation. Images of the work may be used for publicity purposes, the website and catalogs.
* Where should I send them? Please mail them to: Treewhispers, Pamela Paulsrud, 923 Amherst, Wilmette, IL 60091 USA
* How will I know Treewhispers receives them? If you send your e-mail with the work or write to me on the Treewhispers website I will let you know when they arrive. After that, sign up at the Treewhispers website and stay tuned.
* Does the text have to be in English? No. The collaboration is international, so please use your native language. I would highly appreciate an English translation written on the back or on paper in accompaniment with the handmade paper round.
* Should I sign my work? It’s up to you. Some work is signed and dated—some on the front—some on the back—some work comes anonymously. There’s no ‘rule’ on this but I’ll have to say it’s fun to see all the names and places from which they come!
*Will my work be in the installation? All work that arrives at least a month before the exhibition date meeting the criteria will be included. (Criteria being flat, round, handmade paper with a tree story, art, poetry—sometimes the paper speaks for itself.) Work received after that date will be included in the next installation.
* How is the “tree”/installation hung? The rounds are strung in house in roughly 5 ft. segments which can be connected together to hang in galleries with varying ceiling heights. This method also serves the purpose to rotate the work from one exhibit to the next. For instance, your work may be near the ceiling in one exhibit and at eye level the next. Also some work hangs on the wall. The forest continues to grow with each installation.
* Where will the installation be next?
The installation is currently at the Bridge and Joutras Galleries in the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois, January 14 through April 8, 2012.
* Will the installation ever be near me?
Please contact Treewhispers for information if you are a gallery or alternative exhibition space interested in bringing the Treewhispers installation to you.
* Is there another way to participate? You can also post your stories, poetry and photos honoring trees as well as your papermaking process below and on the Treewhispers Facebook page. Spread the word and stay tuned!
[...] Share your tree story! [...]
This is tree related so bear with me…
My name is Laura Herre. I’m 30 years old and I live in Conover Wisconsin. I was in a near fatal motorcycle accident back in July 2012 due to a car turning in front of us. My physical healing has been a slow process, I still have fractures in both shoulders, my mobility is limited, I have a torn rotator cuff and tears in my hip muscles, brain injury and nerve trauma.
After 3 months of being depressed I found art therapy with a local counsler in Eagle River and it has been so helpful with the emotional healing. I also have been blessed with having a wonderful physical therapist who has used yoga in modified poses that allow me to work on stretching and strengthening without over using my arms and it has been very helpful. I’m also involved with a yoga life coach who has volunteered her services to me to help the spiritual and emotional journey of basically reinventing myself. Instead of focusing on what I can’t do anymore since the accident, I’m focusing on what I can do and finding new hobbies and experiences I never would have found. My art pieces will be a part of artisits for trauma (you can google it, amazing story) and I pen pal to other brain injury survivors thru the brain injury resource center of wisconsin.
It took me 3 months to stop feeling sorry for myself and really create the person I want to be, and even tho the slow healing, set backs and high chance of surgery in 2 months are chalenging, I try to be positive. I very by accident came across your website and thought to myself…nope no tree story here, then I got thinking….
A month after the accident, I was able to move around slowly and starting taking painstakinly slow walks with my husband. I used to walk a few miles a day so I really missed it and had to start over with baby steps. You dont realize how much you rush and how much you miss by rushing until you are forced to slow down. All of a sudden I noticed pine cones. I starting to collect them and stick them in my pockets or my husbands pockets. Then I started to bring a bag and I have bags and boxes of pinecones. I even bought a few huge ones from california at a thrift store. I started to make art with them, decorations arounf my house, pine cones in bowls and baskets and in fake trees in my house. I started to notice how many different kinds there were and how they looked differently at different statges of growth. I loved the look of them fused onto branches before being fully grown and ready to fall. I found ones with red in them, My mom started sending my bags of them from North Carolina. I became a pine cone nut and its really been a part of my healing. So there’s my tree story and I didn’t even think I had one.
Laura Herre
lbherre@yahoo.com