Ritual Dressing of Nature
Artist Statement
Material compositions, color usage & patterns of indigenous people of Africa, the South Pacific and minority tribes of Southeast Asia inspired me to adorn the trees of Dottie Harper Park in a ritualistic dressing.
I drew design elements from both structural and surface designs of the indigenous cultures. Wrappings are reminiscent of straw bundles used in dwelling construction. Patterns are representative of surface applications seen in both garments and building surfaces.
The painted burlap wrappings reflect surface designs of these cultures. Patterns, colors and materials extracted from the natural surroundings serve to integrate the design into the park's environment.
Commissioning Agency
4Culture, King County, Washington
Location
Ephemeral work. Installed in 2008 at Dottie Harper Park, Burien, Washington