this forest remembers fire

Grief is like a forest after a wildfire. After my grandmother's death in 2017, I spent the summer as a wildland firefighter, witnessing firsthand the transformation of forest ecosystems in the wake of fire. After a wildfire, the forest may look desolate, with charred remnants indicating what once thrived. However, fire is crucial in healing certain ecosystems and integral to many landscapes.

This installation features a fictional forest after a wildfire. The burned and charred forms serve as reminders of past fires and their impacts. As climate change accelerates, society must reevaluate its relationship with fire, acknowledging its destructive potential and vital role in renewal. Rather than merely "fighting fire," we should seek ways to coexist with it, embracing its place in our ecosystem. This forest embodies fire's dual nature: a force of destruction and a catalyst for regeneration.

As I navigate my grief over losing my grandmother, I have learned about resilience through the natural healing processes of forests. Fire can promote growth, even when signs of renewal are not immediately evident. Some forests may take years or even decades to recover from a fire, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t recovering. Just as ecosystems rejuvenate themselves, grief also unfolds on a different timescale.

this work was supported by the Marcia Grand Centennial Sculpture Prize