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A performance for Ciudad Bolivar.
A performance for Ciudad Bolivar.
2012
2012
Arbol ahorcado (The Hanged Tree) was created to honor a promise I made in Ciudad Bolivar, Bogota - Colombia. The promise was to return to the U.S. and tell a story from Colombia.
Arbol ahorcado (The Hanged Tree) was created to honor a promise I made in Ciudad Bolivar, Bogota - Colombia. The promise was to return to the U.S. and tell a story from Colombia.
The story is about a tree in Ciudad Bolivar, a tree where someone was hanged to intimidate a barrio. The barrio has re-claimed itself; is home to a healthy, vibrant neighborhood, full of services for its community members. But there, still, sits that tree. Arbol ahorcado was created to both preserve the cultural memory of the tragedy that took place there and as a visual symbol of the barrio's transformation.
The story is about a tree in Ciudad Bolivar, a tree where someone was hanged to intimidate a barrio. The barrio has re-claimed itself; is home to a healthy, vibrant neighborhood, full of services for its community members. But there, still, sits that tree. Arbol ahorcado was created to both preserve the cultural memory of the tragedy that took place there and as a visual symbol of the barrio's transformation.
A photograph of the tree in Ciudad Bolivar was projected onto the wall and a drawing on transparent vellum referenced from Sandro Botticelli Drawings for Dante's Divine Comedy was hung next to the tree projection.
A photograph of the tree in Ciudad Bolivar was projected onto the wall and a drawing on transparent vellum referenced from Sandro Botticelli Drawings for Dante's Divine Comedy was hung next to the tree projection.
A soundtrack of 14 songs about hanging trees was played during the performance. The soundtrack was looped during the performance.
A soundtrack of 14 songs about hanging trees was played during the performance. The soundtrack was looped during the performance.
I placed small hearts cut from military uniforms donated by the organization Iraq Veterans Against the War into a shape that echoes the shadow of the hanging tree's bare branches. Once I completed the tree shape, the audience began to exchange the plain camouflage hearts for other camouflage ones hand-printed with a red heart in the center. The tree that inspired the performance is a eucalyptus tree and the blocks for printing the red hearts are cut from eucalyptus wood. The audience was invited to stamp the red hearts themselves or use hearts already printed.
I placed small hearts cut from military uniforms donated by the organization Iraq Veterans Against the War into a shape that echoes the shadow of the hanging tree's bare branches. Once I completed the tree shape, the audience began to exchange the plain camouflage hearts for other camouflage ones hand-printed with a red heart in the center. The tree that inspired the performance is a eucalyptus tree and the blocks for printing the red hearts are cut from eucalyptus wood. The audience was invited to stamp the red hearts themselves or use hearts already printed.
At sunset, tea light candles were placed among the hearts that form the tree shape and lit. The soundtrack was stopped after all the candles were lit. In silence, 38 drawings of hanging figures were projected onto the tree one at a time.
At sunset, tea light candles were placed among the hearts that form the tree shape and lit. The soundtrack was stopped after all the candles were lit. In silence, 38 drawings of hanging figures were projected onto the tree one at a time.
The performance ends when the candles burn out.
The performance ends when the candles burn out.
"In a display of transformation, the shadowed reflection of a Hanging Tree, Arbol ahorcado, is surrounded and filled with images, illumination, and heart shaped patches cut from US military uniforms worn in Iraq. Please feel free to participate by cutting, stamping and placing the hearts. With our actions and intention here today, we send this anti-militant support, and a wave of love, reinforcing the desire for peace, not only for the people of Ciudad Bolivar, but to all those affected by acts of intimidation, oppression, and strife, throughout the world." - Tammy Bohn
"In a display of transformation, the shadowed reflection of a Hanging Tree, Arbol ahorcado, is surrounded and filled with images, illumination, and heart shaped patches cut from US military uniforms worn in Iraq. Please feel free to participate by cutting, stamping and placing the hearts. With our actions and intention here today, we send this anti-militant support, and a wave of love, reinforcing the desire for peace, not only for the people of Ciudad Bolivar, but to all those affected by acts of intimidation, oppression, and strife, throughout the world." - Tammy Bohn
Special thanks to Tammy Bohn and Malachi Muncy.
The playlist for Arbol ahorcado was created by Tammy Bohn.
Arbol ahorcado was photographed by Karyn E, Tammy Bohn, and Mia Pearl Leighty and filmed by Alice April.
Rehearsals for Arbol ahorcado were photographed by Marianne Evans-Lombe.
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