Thoughts on Thomas tree

During the process of this project it went from thinking of something cool to do, to something that had me in tears in front of my classmates. There were so many things about this project that meant something to me that I'm not sure where to start. This piece represented things about my personality, my relationship with the earth, my concern for and relationship with my friend Thomas, celebrating a dying tree that is to be cut down to honor it, but also to let  people, who are here now and those who have passed, that loved that tree, that someone cares that they're going to lose it. I decorated the tree branches in: popcorn strings, cranberry strings, apples and oranges, corn, a suet cake feeder, a bird seed bell, and a blueberry string. My purpose in doing this was to attract wildlife to this big beautiful tree that has shaded this corner of Monument for many years. When someone dies we gather at a funeral for them, I didn't want this to be a sad gathering of that type however, I wanted to birds, squirrels, etc to come while the tree was still here and give it a last hoorah so to speak. Being the type of person who personifies many things including inanimate objects (I've done this since a child) The attracting of wildlife made me feel like the tree wouldn't have to be alone while it waits for its fate. I think part of this is what I wish I could do for Thomas. Find a way to let him know he's not alone. Overall, to me the tree represents my dear friend Thomas who is now on death row in Virginia. Ironically, for the tree and him, a government official waits on the other side of their fate.  Being that I know a much deeper side to the story, be it his personal story or the court case surrounding him I can see that his life has been shrouded in tragedy, sadness, and overall darkness. Even now in the circumstances he is under he is looked down upon and is waiting in the wings of execution. With this project I wanted to bring light to him, to the tree, to his memory, to all the thoughts surrounding him. At the base of the tree I placed handfuls of smooth pebbles. As I held them in my hands and sprinkled them about the base of the tree I thought about Thomas, about all the wishes I have for him, about all the wishes I know he had/has for himself and about the good in him that is the person I have grown to know and care about. I filled the rocks with my positive energy. I then carefully placed fewer larger stones around the base of the tree. These stones were an amber color but reflected, purples, greens, and other colors that were around them. I wanted to use stones around the tree because of what I read in Overlay. The ancient belief that a stone was a spirit and a spirit's dwelling place. I liked the idea that stones could hold something as powerful as a soul. Perhaps they can hold part of the tree's spirit and if the day comes, Thomas' spirit too. I liked that stones represent permanence. The tree can be cut down, Thomas can be taken away from this earth but he won't really be gone from me. He'll be in my heart and memories.  After the stones were placed, I placed tiny circular mirrors all over the lower trunk and on the roots that stuck out of the ground. As mentioned in class mirrors can be used to extend our reality. I feel that they can reflect energy. I was also drawn to their ability to reflect light since bringing light to the tree was a goal.  There are also small crystal hearts that reflect pink all about the bottom of the tree. Once all of that was in place Gold, silver and iridescent glitter was dusted all around the bottom. I know that glitter is a big art no-no but this project wasn't about it being politically correct art it was about me, it was about Thomas it was the tree, it was about so many things. I personally love glitter and I wanted things around the tree that would attract and reflect light. 3 small glass containers are set at the base of the tree filled with water. I read online that it's difficult for animals to find water when the weather cools. Also the fact that life evolved in water attracted me to the idea of using it in my art; coupled with a very strong wish that Thomas' sentence will be overturned from death to life in prison. I also placed flameless tea-light candles all around that have been glowing since Friday.  In a way it's also like a candle light vigil. Since I had difficulty finding the organic plantable paper (and my attempt at making my own was a flop) I bought paper with flowers in it, copied a letter Thomas had sent me and then glued (with biodegradable glue) wild flower seeds to the edges. It turned out beautifully and I was really pleased. Another unseen aspect of this project is that only females were allowed to touch the objects that went into the tree. I was thinking about the Zuni Indians that were mentioned in Overlay and how only the women were allowed to do the clay work because clay was flesh of the supernatural. I wanted all of the work that went into Thomas tree to have feminine energy in it. I wanted the tree to have the essence of the power of the female connection with the earth and innate feminine quality of nurturing. My relationship with Thomas is not something I openly share with many so this project was a large display of opening up. "Shedding light" on the topic since it is something I keep hidden from those I think that won't understand. In the end the tree is what it is. A dying tree destined to be chopped down. But to me, and those who take a moment to appreciate the beauty in something that at first glance appears to be discardable, it is beautiful.