Into the woods: 'Trees' a glimpse into the natural world through a forest of works

Aug. 25—Trees release oxygen for our breath, add nutrients to the soil, shade us from the sun, reduce carbon emissions and captivate us with their beauty.

They are the lungs of the earth.

Richard Levy Gallery director Viviette Hunt lives surrounded by trees in Tesuque. When she heard about the Let's Plant Albuquerque program, she curated a show about trees. The initiative is dedicated to planting 100,000 new saplings in the city by 2030.

Hunt gathered a group of artists whose work has centered around the natural world. Their works range from installation to photography, painting and sculpture. Additionally, Let's Plant Albuquerque will give away 100 trees to visitors during the artist reception on Friday, Sept. 6.

The Chicago-based Mary Farmilant's site-specific installation "Come to the woods, for here is rest." consists of photographs on silk charmeuse. The piece greets visitors as they enter the gallery.

Farmilant captured images in the old growth forest of Lac du Flambeau in northern Wisconsin. The area encompasses the ancestral homelands of her husband's Ojibwe people. Farmilant aims to evoke the sense of wonder and quiet stillness that green spaces offer, even in the midst of city centers.

"The visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the images," Hunt said.

Santa Fe's Lawrence Fodor created "Tree 11B: Sunset Crater National Monument, 2024." Fodor is known for his work on the fragility of the natural world and climate change.

"He's always played with abstraction with a thematic focus on nature," Hunt said. "It's a painting of trees on a photograph with the trees layered together."

Santa Fe's Munson Hunt carved "Split Spheres" from bleached Douglas fir, resin and wax.

"She finds wood from trees that have expired," Hunt said. "She's reclaimed a Douglas fir from the Los Alamos fire of 2005."

The artist brushes resin on the top to resemble a frosted layer.

Santa Fe's Oliver Polzin painted "Opisthokonts II" using gouache on clayboard. He creates mystical landscapes as an exploration of animism and the human connection to the natural world.

"He's also a founding member of Meow Wolf," Hunt said. "I see it as the spiritual essence of trees."

Johnny DeFeo's version of northern New Mexico-meets-van Gogh, "Last Minute of the Seco Sunset," is an acrylic on birch panel.

"He's interested in exploring the landscape from a non-human perspective," Hunt said.

The Korean American artist J P shot an 8-minute video of a ceremony for a cottonwood. S(he) climbed the tree every day for three months.

"S(he) builds relationships with trees like s(he) builds relationships with humans," Hunt said.

The artist draped its branches with ropes, ribbons and fabric. The ceremony incorporated aspects of Korean traditions honoring sacred trees.

"In the '20s and '30s, there was a city initiative to plant trees," Hunt said of Albuquerque. "That's how a lot of the elm trees originated."

Many of those trees are sick or dying, particularly the cottonwoods, she said.

"I'm super interested in learning about the health of trees through this exhibit," she added. "I'm always a fan for looking out for a good cause."