This project tells a deep geological story showing the connection between ancient trees and ourselves. Working in conjunction with the NY State Museum in Albany NY as a visiting researcher in the Paleontology Department, I am 3D scanning their collection of fossilized remains from what is considered the worlds oldest known forest. These scans result in traditional molds in which broken up cycled glass and resin are cast to create sculptures. Like stained glass objects, they take on a celestial glow elevating the rocks to their important status as our plant ancestors.
400 million years ago in the Devonian period, a cluster of Eospermatopteris trees grew along the Catskill Sea in what is now the Catskill Mountains. This period is the beginning of the greening of the planet at which point CO2 levels changed sufficiently for creatures to live on land. When these trees lived, is the moment that the animal kingdom started crawling out of the water and onto land. All of this work and the larger project are meant to have us consider both our importance and also our absolute insignificance within the Earth's history and trajectory.
This work is ongoing so stay tuned!!!