Recherché

Recherché is an examination of what society prescribes value.  It could be argued that with a rise in environmental education, most people see the ecological value of a living tree.  The financial value of a tree cut & processed into lumber could also be understood by most.  But what about a dead tree?  Besides firewood, I had never considered the value of a dead tree until I lived a short time in a small town removing their dead trees as a beautification effort. I photographed them with the intention of demonstrating their aesthetics.  I later learned that dead trees have ecological value.  Scientifically termed snags, standing and fallen dead trees serve several vital functions such as housing and food for numerous organisms.  Removal of snags is estimated to be a habitat loss for up to one fifth of animals.

Printed small and on cyanotype paper, I aimed to increase the desirability of these snags through social and historical significance. Blue, a once rare, expensive & sought after pigment while the size, capped at 2.25 inches squared, references the tangibles in life we hold dear: small children are generally considered precious; money, bank & credit cards fit into purses and pockets but hold incredible value; our phones that fit in the palms of our hands, lose financial value as they age but are extremely valuable per the functions we have prescribed them to in our lives; jewelry, no matter the actual monetary value, is usually treasured, either as a gift swollen with personal nostalgia or an heirloom heavy with the significance of home.

Our planet as heirloom is most valuable as a healthy organism fraught with natural habitats that sustain life for all creatures.