In the top six inches of the forest floor lies a vast and flourishing communication system as old as photosynthesis itself. This is where we find an exquisitely balanced symbiotic relationship between mycorrhizal fungi and tree roots which provides a network of channels for resources and messages between individual trees. The resulting plant chatter is as complex and efficient as our own worldwide web. In recent research, biologists have discovered the existence of Mother trees: larger, older specimens that, with the help of their fungi, serve as system hubs in life and as nutrient sources in death. This mycorrhizal network thus connects and stabilizes the forest, and by extension, our entire planet's biosphere.

Fascinated by this current research, I applied for an Ontario Arts Council Grant to travel to the University of British Columbia and meet Dr Suzanne Simard who is a leader in this field. Together with her and some of her gracious Grad students, I toured her lab and field facilities on campus and through the mountains to Kamloops. It was an amazing experience.
The resulting exhibition, entitled Woven Woods, is a collection of twelve circular quilted wall hangings, measuring 36 to 48" in diameter, each depicting twelve trees of varying types, seasons and stages of growth, and portraying a different aspect of their connection with the mycorrhizal net. Each circle encloses the story of a thriving ecosystem, where all individual elements contribute to support the whole.

The circle, which is a shape symbolizing infinity, also happens to be the shape of the earth, a cross section of tree root and even a single spore. We use circles to describe the flow of our seasons, our measure of time, and the movements of biological systems through their cycles.

Since fabric is itself a plant or animal product, it is an ideal material for expressing and capturing the attributes of natural forms, and the techniques I use mirror processes that bring order to diverse and humble materials. For materials, I used fabrics of all kinds, mainly dyed and printed cottons, some silks, a variety of synthetics and sheers, and cotton batting. In a few of them I also used acrylic paint. They are all machine appliqued and quilted, and hang freely without frames.

To purchase a full colour illustrated BOOK about the Woven Woods project click HERE.

I am available to do slide presentations, trunk shows and artist's talks about the making of, and the science behind, the Woven Woods exhibition. The lecture can be customized for particular audiences. Please contact me with your ideas.

Living Language Land: Word portraits from the Earth is a collection of textiles inspired by 26 specially chosen words from endangered and minority languages from all over the world. These beautiful, poetic words, many of which have no direct translation to English, reveal complex and elemental connections to land and nature. This collection of visual interpretations illuminates these unique words and sparks curiosity about their meanings and the cultures from which they spring. Intimate connections between culture and spirituality, colourful linguistic expressions, and evolving relationships with nature are vividly integrated in these textured compositions.

The original Living-language-land word collection was spearheaded and organized by artist Neville Gabie and neuroscientist Philippa Bayley of the UK. Their goal was to offer a platform to minority and endangered language-holders to share a word and story that reflects a relationship to land and nature. It was about enlarging the lexicon we can all draw upon in reflecting on those relationships.Contributions were invited from around the world, acknowledging that only a tiny fraction of minority and endangered languages could be represented in this project.

The organizers responded to my offer to create a visual version of Living-language-land with full endorsement and encouragement. My part in this collaborative project was to create 'word portraits' in stitched textiles that would engage emotions and light up curiosity about these beautiful, poetic words. They bring together themes I'm passionate about: our relationship with nature, love of words and language, and earth-based spirituality. With these pieces, I re-interpret each of the words into fabric pictures, based on the information provided and my emotional response. Throughout the project I was respectful of the indigenous cultures represented, careful not to appropriate symbols and imagery. My one purpose was to create an entry point, from my own imagination, to encourage and enhance this deep respect. It is an effective tool to immerse viewers in a fresh experience of nature and connection to land.

All contributions were created by the communities themselves, and all contributors received compensation to support their wider work. All contributions are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, unless otherwise noted. Attribution to the authors is essential. All supporting information can be found here: https://living-language-land.org.

I am currently seeking venue commitments for this exhibition and will post developments as they emerge: please watch my Events page for updated information. I am open to doing presentations, by Zoom or in person, for educational purposes. Contact me for details.