This piece created by Mary Maisch will be at the Well St. show. (Photo by Margo Klass)UAF’s School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences OneTree project branched out from one birch tree to hundreds of local artists, scientists, teachers and students. Their work will be on display in two shows, one by professionals and one by students.
Expect to see unusual and endearing displays, all made from birch. Logs, cross sections, twigs, bark and leaves have become furniture, vessels, prints, fiber art and wall pieces. A highlight of the adult show is sure to be the “artist books” created in a workshop taught by Margo Klass.
The children’s exhibit will include a scientific display of birch branches experiencing leaf-out. The student work includes poetry, books, prints and weaving. Artists and scientists have been helping students in 13 schools gain a deeper appreciation for the forest as they worked with local materials and made observations about the natural world.
Both shows open April 1 for First Friday, with receptions from 5 to 8 p.m. The professional show, called Betula neoalaskana: Celebrating One Tree is at Well Street Art Co. Gallery, 1304 Well St., and the children’s show is at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors’ Center, 101 Dunkel St.
At the student art show there will be several hands-on activities for students of all ages for First Friday, including leaf rubbings with artist’s charcoal made from birch and willow twigs and an interactive tree-aging game.
Janice Dawe, the UAF adjunct professor who coordinates the OneTree project, said the endeavor has been a “beautiful collaboration of art and science” and she is excited to have the shows available to the public. “It’s kind of a crazy idea, isn’t it?” she asked, “everything coming from one tree? All we’re trying to do is connect people with the forest resource base.”
Dawe said the people of Fairbanks have been very supportive of OneTree. “The community has really embraced it and made it its own,” she said.
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