The Redwoods: An Artist’s Statement

Let’s all close our eyes and pretend for a second that I’m a “real artist” showcasing my photography at a gallery. Here’s my short Artist’s Statement:

“In the Redwoods of Northern California, what struck me about the groves of these ancient giants was not their undeniable massiveness. It was the textures of the forest. These trees grew to such grand portions that the details of bark were enlarged and now their beauty engrossed me. There were valleys and peaks and lovely color changes from one ridge to another. There were plants and fungi that created completely different environments on different ridges on the same tree. I was Alice and I had drunk the potion that shrunk me, and now I was seeing all the textures that went unnoticed.”

Ninety percent of these pictures are of Coastal Redwood tree bark from the two of the big three Redwoods parks- Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The third being Redwoods National Park with the Avenue of the Giants. The trees in Prairie Creek captivated me so much that I spent three hours doing a short two mile nature loop taking most of these pictures. I wish I had enough power to capture the trees along the James Irvine Trail, because they had even more personality.

Jedediah. The contrast of delicate seasonal spring greens with an 1800 year old giant, both reaching for the sky.

Jedediah. In the right circumstances these molten lava looking parts of the tree will sprout new stalks of redwoods.

Jedediah. Bark

Jedediah. Yup

Jedediah. This tree is still living. The resin in Coastal Redwoods prevents fires from destroying the tree.

Jedediah. Fungi

Jedediah. Roots

Jedediah. Bark

Prairie. Bark of a fallen tree

Prairie. This is a branch, but the picture isn’t flipped.

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Trunk of fallen tree.

Prairie. Three different trees

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Fungi

Prairie. Roots from a fallen tree.

Prairie. Roots from a fallen tree.

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Roots on a pathway.

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. This is bark, believe it or not.

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Section of cut trunk

Prairie. These trees were lovely amongst all the Redwoods.

Prairie. This was about half a foot long on the trunk.

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. Burnt trunk of a tree

Prairie. Bark

Prairie. A root system crawling out between trees.

Prairie. A group of trees. some are sprouts of trees near by

Prairie. A white trillium looking up to the tree. Not flipped

Prairie. Bark

And, of course, these trees are massive!

Robin

Me