Making Extinction Public

We are using the precious remains of fallen ash trees (killed by Emerald Ash Borer) to produce permanent artworks for regional public libraries.

Libraries are the right spaces for this work because they are widely trusted and preserve what is locally relevant. By making regular visits to libraries in our research area, and entering conversation with engaged library directors, we identify ways to present ash as sculpture that will matter for all kinds of people.

Publicly processing this shared loss from our ecosystem is a way to notice, honor, and explore the ecological and cultural significance of a threatened tree.

Committed to Collaboration

Our work is wholly collaborative. We align as artists who notice beauty and fall into reverie through observation. Michael’s rural background, public art experience, and familiarity with the forest contrasts and coalesces with Ripley’s urban upbringing, history with libraries, and writing practice. Together, we are joyfully shaping a socially engaged project for diverse audiences while illuminating the complexity of our changing forests.

Skills and Tools

We are the researchers, designers, and fabricators of each Processing Collapse artwork.

Since project research began in 2015, we have experimented with building, burning, carving, carbonizing, coppicing, and composting with fallen ash trees. These experiments emerged out of daily observations made in the forest throughout the arc of collapse in Ulster County.

We have amassed an extensive tool kit for working with this material. Facilities at our disposal include a fully equipped woodworking studio, a metal fabrication workshop, and mobile studio (converted RV) for working in the field. Tools we have accumulated and fabricated include a portable sawmill, charcoal retort, wide range of power tools, hand tools (including carving tools, hand saws, and a range of carving axes), and a simple forge.