Artist Statement

At the heart of the forest lies a profound web of relationships, where trees, plants, animals, and the earth form a harmonious symbiosis. When a tree transitions into the realm of the fallen, it becomes nurturing support for the next generation, fostering an intricate web of life. Amidst a rich tapestry of foliage, mosses, and lichens, seedlings emerge—intertwined and nourished by the legacy of their predecessors. It is a sacred cycle, where the old bestows life upon the new, ensuring the perpetual vitality of the forest ecosystem.

Inspired by the groundbreaking research of Dr. Suzanne Simard on the interconnectedness of Mother Tree systems in forest regeneration, this series seeks to encapsulate the essence of that dynamic relationship. My work reanimates the intricate processes of succession that underpin the forest’s existence.

Drawing parallels to Albrecht Dürer’s seminal watercolor A Piece of Turf (1503), where the ordinary is elevated to the extraordinary through the artist’s lens—Wisdom of the Forest: Mother Tree Series pays homage to the sublime beauty found in the minutiae of the forest.

Through respectfully gathering, arranging, and assembling elements from the forest floor, I strive to forge a deeper connection with the flora of the Pacific Northwest coastal rainforests and the Eastern Maple Forests. Each composition becomes a vessel through which I seek to understand something of these botanical beings—do they exude dampness or dryness, are they weightless or sodden, do they carry a fragrance that whispers of the forest?

May these images serve as distilled memories, capturing the essence of the places from which they were created. Each work incorporates two points of view: the distant vista and the view from above. Together, they recall the embodied experience of moving through a forest—simultaneously looking ahead and observing the details beneath one’s feet. Each composition features an emblematic ephemeral plant, signalling early spring and inviting viewers to contemplate the profound interconnectedness and delicate resilience of the Earth.

Image List

Prints: archival pigment on Baryta, 40x 32”, 2025. Edition of 3 plus Artist Proof

Eastern Maple Forest

Eastern Maple Forest with Trillium and Trout Lily

Eastern Maple Forest with Aspen, Birch and Violets

Eastern Maple Forest with Violets, Raspberry and Elderberry

Eastern Maple Forest with Birch and Marshmarigold