Processing Collapse is a public art project about extinction made for public libraries.
This work began with marking the collapse of our regional ash trees due to the introduction of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). In just over a decade, 99% of the mature ash in our region died as a result of EAB infestation. Seen another way, 7% of our forest was lost in the blink of an eye. We want to acknowledge and mark that loss as a relevant, historic event with lasting impacts on our lives and ecosystems.
Our research continues to evolve as we look back on historic collapses and consider new threats to species like American chestnut, elm, beech, and Eastern hemlock. We want to acknowledge the magnitude and relevance of these losses and their lasting impacts on our lives and ecosystems.
Our work materializes as custom public artworks made from the remnants of dead trees. We identify connections between species in collapse and the local, distinct histories of each community by presenting this work in the libraries that serve and archive our region.
We strive to forge a relationship between people and the forest in our last free commons.
Making Extinction Public
Libraries are the right spaces for this work because they are widely trusted and preserve what is locally relevant. Our process is rooted in regular visits to libraries in our research area, and entering conversation with engaged library directors.
Publicly processing shared loss from our ecosystem is a way to notice, honor, and explore the ecological and cultural significance of threatened trees.
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.