Experiments
What the Trees See is a digitally-illustrated, looping animation that ponders the past, present, and future development of Richmond, VA. What the Trees See imagines a future where nature has taken over the city of Richmond. I have recently combined my interests in animation and traditional fibers techniques to begin producing animated, living quilts that are meant to be projected. What the Trees See is very much a living quilt that relies on projection and light to activate its elements. In this quilt, I’ve included references to gentrification and development; areas of community in the city such as public parks; Virginia State symbols (the dogwood flower, the foxhound, the brook trout, etc.); and nods to Richmond’s past (albeit the past has been revised by removing the controversial Lee statue on Monument Ave and replacing it with the Virginia State bird, the cardinal). I have included illustrations of four of the oldest trees in Richmond City. I truly wonder what they have witnessed over their 150–300+ year lives.
