Artist Research (ART727)
‘The Archive Of The Trees’ is the body of work produced by artist Edwina Fitzpatrick during her residency at Fine shade Wood.
The work combines Forestry Commission tree records with historical archives, local anecdotes about the weather, and the images of each tree’s secret interior archive.
Edwina fitzpatrick, by working with foresters, regular visitors to Fineshade Wood and local resources, investigated the forest as a living archive that traces human activity in relation to the landscape.
At the heart of the project are cores collected from mature trees in Fine shade Wood by Swansea University’s UK Oak Project. Collecting these cores – the tree’s own individual archive – does not harm the tree and reveals the tree’s age, growing patterns, past weather conditions, stresses such as diseases, as well as its individual reaction to diverse and changing weather conditions dating back several decades.
Each artwork features a tree core image, as well as a timeline and excerpts from 60 conversations with diverse people who care about Fineshade Wood.
The artworks span topics that affect both trees and humans in similar ways – such as pollution, seasonality, adapting to new environments or healing from wounds.
The Archive of the Trees took place in Fineshade Wood in Northamptonshire (January -December 2018). Commissioned by Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, artist Edwina fitzPatrick invited Swansea University’s
UK Oak Project team to collect and analyse very small cores from mature trees in Fineshade Wood – the samples didn't harm the trees.
The cores reveal the tree’s age, growing patterns, past weather conditions and stresses such as diseases. In effect, they are the tree’s own archive: each specimen reveals its ‘autobiography’.
Fineshade Wood is a remnant of the much larger ancient Rockingham Forest, so there is a long regional history of human and arboreal lives being intertwined. Edwina reflected this by inviting forest residents, foresters, local groups and Fineshade visitors to contribute their observations about both the Wood’s trees and unusual weather they’ve experienced in the area spanning previous decades.
The arboreal and human responses to changing weather were combined to create a trail of 'tree wraps' in the Wood and an onsite exhibition of double sided banners.
Edwina offers her profuse thanks to everyone who participated in this project. It wouldn't have happened with you. There is a publication featuring recycled paper to share the project more widely.
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