Treelogy, the Exhibit

What can art say for nature?

Images can help us to focus, build affection, and to reimagine things that maybe never even captured our attention.

Fire and flora have old secrets, infinitely subtle inspiration, and fresh perspectives to provide. As we mourn what we’ve lost, dedicate ourselves to what we can steward, and reform our laws, society, and our minds, art and culture are the oxygen for new growth.

It’s in this spirit that Treelogy was conceptualized. Three original musical compositions were commissioned by The Soraya. They are dedicated to three of California’s most iconic tree species: the giant sequoia, coastal redwood, and Joshua tree which were all hard hit during the wildfires of 2020. Fires consumed much of the state’s beloved natural space, and disrupted environments that took thousands of years to develop.

Treelogy, the exhibit, co-curated by Addy Gonzalez of 11:11 Projects and Miles Lewis of Valley Art Workshop, explores the shared experience of fire and the trees’ function as ecological cornerstones. The featured artworks address fire’s various roles as creator, destroyer, and regenerator. Viewers are invited to revisit the images and understandings of this phenomenon as we all strive for a more complete and symbiotic relationship between humans, landscapes, and fire.

The Treelogy exhibit features an oil-on-canvas triptych by alumnus Miles Lewis (above), depicting the three subjects of the program: Sequoia, Joshua Trees, and Redwoods. Transitioning from Overwhelm, to Heartbreak, to Integration, the paintings function as a functional meditation before and after the concert.

Featured Artists:
Patrick Barwinski
Laishan Ito
Miles Lewis
Ethan Turpin
Ahlise Vela

For more information on the exhibit, please visit 1111projects.art/treelogy.