Tree Time with Amanda Love

Artist Amanda Love discusses her art installation, Tree Time, a photographic documentation of the prehistoric and endangered Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood). Love began documenting the Metasequoia during her time as artist-in-residence at The Dawes Arboretum in Licking County. The photographic installation represents over 540 separate visits to the collection of trees since fall of 2019.

Love states, "The installation calls to mind changes that happen over time as individual photos taken over three years in different weather, light, wind, and precipitation conditions, to create one large symphony of trees. The dawn redwood was thought to be extinct until 1940, when it was re-discovered in central China. The species was on the edge of extinction due to genetic bottlenecking; their isolation has weakened them near the point of collapse. When I think about that in relation to human life—we too suffer when isolated—I see clear parallels. These last pandemic years have clearly illustrated the crucial importance of community, engagement and diversity to our well-being. In the images, you see a genetically diverse plantation of the Metasequoia glyptostroboides. They are reaching out, connecting, just like us humans."