Like a Slow Walk With Trees- exhibition and works
Beaver sticks, marked by the teeth of beavers, were included in the exhibition as objects that are both aesthetically captivating and deeply functional in their natural context. These sticks, shaped through the purposeful labor of beavers, symbolize the interplay between utility and beauty in the natural world. By bringing them into the gallery space, they helped highlight questions around the purpose of work—how labor can simultaneously fulfill practical needs and contribute to something larger, whether ecological balance or creative expression. The beaver sticks served as a metaphor, asking visitors to reflect on the intentions and impacts of our own work: Is it rooted in sustaining life and community, or does it perpetuate harm? In this way, the objects challenge us to rethink what it means for work to be meaningful, purposeful, and in harmony with the land.
The beaver sticks were courtesy of John Letourneau from my time at Denniston Hill Residency in Sullivan County, NY.