Trees: They produce nearly a third of the world’s oxygen, are sacrificially harvested to build our homes and provide goods ranging from rubber to coconuts. But are they art?
A new exhibit of massive-scaled photos at Berkeley’s David Brower Center argues that, indeed, they are worth our consideration. For years, East Bay photographer Stefan Thuilot has pursued what he calls the California Forest Project, capturing tens of thousands of images from all 25 forest ecosystems in the state. Yes, there are that many, ranging from the mystical redwoods of the north to the rugged conifers of the high country to the gnarled oak groves of our own Henry Coe State Park.
The technology needed to print Thuilot’s high-resolution images, composited from hundreds of photos, at full size doesn’t exist yet – he hopes it will in the future. But the photographs on display are still jaw-droppingly massive, measuring tree-like up to 13 feet high. In these photos, he tells stories about not just the world’s tallest living organisms, but looming dangers such as inadequate forest management and ever-more-devastating wildfires.
“I believe that photography stands as a potent tool,” he says, “to portray the changing landscapes that threaten its legacy.”
Details: Free admission. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at the David Brower Center’s Hazel Wolf Gallery, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley; browercenter.org. Opening reception is at 6:30 p.m. May 30; show runs through August 22.
