FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

August 27 – December 11, 2022 / Aronson Fine Arts Center, Museum Circle + Northern Grove

CURATed by Dana Turkovic, Laumeier Curator

In art and in poetry, the beauty and power of trees is an alluring subject matter with infinite possibilities. The exhibition Forest Through the Trees pulls together a group of artists whose observations range from representation through landscape to conceptual experimentation where the tree is treated as both subject and object. The exhibition also incorporates works from Laumeier’s permanent collection that utilize trees, expanding the theme to our outdoor galleries.

As a sculpture park focused on the conversation between art and nature, the works on view operate in harmony with and in reference to the natural landscape, both organic and manicured. Rather than viewed as a backdrop, the tree as a symbol of nature is respected and revered. Each of the artists in the exhibition approach this philosophy with wildly different interpretations. Whether literally carved from a tree trunk, cut from paper, planted in mass, compiled from thousands of carefully layered paint splotches or recreated with computer data, Forest Through the Trees celebrates and, in some cases, further complicates our relationship to nature.

Exhibition Artists:

Zadok Ben-David / Benjamin Butler / Charles Gaines / Lena Henke / Katie Holten / Miler Lagos / Jason Middlebrook / Andy Millner / Katie Paterson / Julius von Bismarck / Rachel Youn

Public Programs

EXHIBITION OPENING
Saturday, August 27 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• INTRODUCTION / 11 a.m. / Aronson Fine Arts Center / FREE
  Join Curator Dana Turkovic for a brief introduction of Forest Through the Trees. 

• PERFORMANCE / Katie Paterson, To Burn, Forest, Fire / 11:30 a.m. First Forest, 11:45 a.m. Last Forest / Siteman Carriage House Deck / FREE
  Experience the scent of the world’s first forest 385 million years ago and the scent of the last forest in the age of the climate crisis with an incense burning ceremony. *Artist will not be present.

CONVERSATION SERIES / Virtual Artist Talk with Rachel Youn
Thursday, September 8 / 6:30 p.m. via Zoom / All Ages / FREE
Join Laumeier’s 2022 Kranzberg Exhibition and Forest Through the Trees artist Rachel Youn for an online talk about their artistic practice and outdoor commission, Parade Paradis.

PLEIN AIR / Landscape Through Trees
Saturday, September 10 / 10 a.m.–2 p.m. / $50
Immerse yourself in nature and let the Park spark your joy as you join others in an afternoon art installation and painting workshop. Forget the canvas and easel and paint the landscape directly on a (wrapped) tree. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy sharing with other community artists. 

FAMILY WORKSHOP / Round + Rustic: Wooden Wall Art
Saturday, September 10 / 1–3 p.m. / Ages 4 to 12, with a favorite grownup / $35

Let the beauty of wood be inspiration for your next masterpiece. Work alongside a family member to create a one-of-a-kind wooden wall hanging. Learn how to transfer images or patterns onto a wooden surface and use painting techniques to achieve the ultimate fall aesthetic. Experiment with shape and composition with your family member while working outdoors on a beautiful fall day.

SUNDAY TOUR / Trees: Concept and Contemplation (Trees in Art)
Sunday, October 9 / 11 a.m. / All Ages / FREE
Join Curator Dana Turkovic and Curator of Education Karen Mullen for a tour of the artworks in Laumeier’s outdoor galleries by artists who utilize trees in a variety of ways, ranging from topiary to a giant redwood. Tour participants will learn about how trees have inspired many of the works on view in the Park.

FALL COLOR HIKE
Saturday, October 15 / 1–3 p.m. / All Ages / $10 per person
Spend the afternoon at the Park on a fall hike through Laumeier’s trails. Gather newly fallen leaves and classify them using their shape and color, and practice examining different types of bark and limbs to master your tree identification skills. End the hike with a quick leaf printing activity to remember the day.

SUNDAY TOUR / Trees: Essential + Sustaining (Trees in the Park)
Sunday, October 23 / 11 a.m. / All Ages / FREE
Learn about the many tree species in the Park, their benefits to our eco-system, and tips on how to manage and maintain your own trees.

CONVERSATION SERIES / Campfire chat with Artist Andy Millner
Thursday, October 20 / 6:30 p.m. / Kranzberg Education Lab Patio / All Ages / FREE
Enjoy hot cocoa and s’mores around the campfire with Forest Through the Trees artist Andy Millner and learn about his artistic practice and artwork in the current exhibition. 

NIGHT OUT / Mud + Merlot: Ceramic Trees
Friday, November 18 / 6:30–9:30 p.m. / Ages 21 + / $54
A bottle of wine and some clay make for a great night out at Laumeier Sculpture Park! Learn slab construction and coiling to build a decorative, ceramic tree. Once glazed and fired, your new and unique holiday decoration is ready to adorn your home during the holiday season. Join us for a fun and relaxed, adults-only evening in which to try your hand at working with clay. Bring your own wine; light snacks are provided. 

CAMPFIRE CHAT / Performance of Katie Paterson, To Burn, Forest, Fire
Thursday, December 8 / 6 p.m. First Forest, 6:15 p.m. Last Forest / All Ages / FREE
Experience the scent of the world’s first forest 385 million years ago and the scent of the last forest in the age of the climate crisis with an incense burning ceremony. *Artist will not be present.

FAMILY WORKSHOP / Sprucing It Up!
Saturday, December 17 / 1–3 p.m. / Ages 4 to 12, with a favorite grownup / $35
It’s time for a new holiday tree this season! Get in touch with your contemporary side and spend the afternoon at Laumeier constructing a unique tree sculpture. Learn how to attach, twist and alter upcycled and found materials into a festive, fabulous masterpiece to admire for holiday seasons to come.

Laumeier Sculpture Park’s ongoing operations and programs are generously supported by St. Louis County Parks; Regional Arts Commission; Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; among other corporations, foundations, individual donors and members.

Additional funding related to COVID-19 relief has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Windgate Foundation, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the St. Louis County Small Business Relief Program.

2022 Exhibitions are supported by Alison and John Ferring, Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, Joan and Mitchell Markow and Two Sisters Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Mary Ann and Andy Srenco.

Forest Through the Trees is supported by the Whitaker Foundation. Rachel Youn is one of two 2022 Kranzberg Artists. This fund, generously provided by Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, supports the presentation of new work by one or more St. Louis area artists per year.