"Sequoia Sempervirens" - The Fieldbrook Giant of 1275 years  

- 2016. Relief block print on cotton paper. 4500 x 4000mm.

The Fieldbrook Giant is an actual-sized relief print of a historical redwood tree cross-section. After the tree’s felling in the late 19th century in Northern California, what remains is the world’s largest redwood stump, a cross-section displayed at the Blue Ox Museum, and this one-of-a-kind print of its dendrochronology. The tree’s annual growth and weather patterns spanning over its 1275 years of age, are depicted by black ink embossed onto paper.

The Fieldbrook Giant’s ‘individualism’ – as tree rings, stress-cracks, and massive girth are emitted as concentric black lines on four paper sections that are placed side-by-side. While looking closely at the artwork, the undulating graphic lines appear to be ‘sharp or crisp’ and are only separated by a few millimeters of white space. I used a spoon to hand-press each of these qualities from the tree’s surface. In the process, this technique became consuming and physically strenuous; it was important to perform it carefully and methodically in order to capture the tree’s ecological history correctly - especially the range of aesthetic qualities within its grandeur.

Two years of research, correspondence, and serendipity have enabled the creation of a print of the gargantuan Fieldbrook Giant Redwood Cross Section. The remaining cross section is exhibited at the Blue Ox Museum in Eureka, California by its caretaker/founder Eric Hollenbeck. The tree section was sawn 70 feet up from the base of the redwood tree, and spans approximately thirteen feet in diameter. With Eric's support, along with small team, and with sponsorship from Gamblin Colors and Legion Paper, the project was commenced and completed in June-July, 2016. This project is a once in a lifetime opportunity and has been a meaningful undertaking.

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