PINE is a photographic and music-based project that explores how the transgressive act of tree c­arving can conjure up sentiments of love, alienation, or even the most basic desire to declare, “I was here. See for yourself”. It’s a gesture, both cruel and tender, intimate and with deliberate purpose. The photographs record my own performative response to these markings and the sentiments they hold. By slowly illuminating the carvings during long exposures at night using fire, moonlight, sparklers, and prismatic light, they begin to allude to dark aquatic ruins, a graffiti strewn dance hall, or the pigment drawings on a prehistoric cave wall.

A deep connection to music runs throughout this project. Some carvings commemorate favorite musicians or lyrics, while other images allude to potential songs. It is in that spirit that I asked seven different musicians to compose original songs inspired by the project. The contributing artists, SassyBlack, Whiting Tennis, DEDE, Tenderfoot, ELIA, NEWAXEYES, and myself, reflect a broad range of genres and sound.  Excerpts from these songs can be played below. A book and a companion vinyl record with digital download was published by Minor Matters Books in Fall 2018.

Purchase the book & record here.