Interwoven

Interwoven grows from my exploration of ecological systems, living materials, and the relationships that connect them. During my residency at Bernheim, I spent a great deal of time exploring the forest, observing its many forms and collecting natural materials. Rather than creating a collection of individual sculptures, I wanted to build an interconnected installation that reflected the relationships I was observing throughout the forest.

Experimentation played a significant role in developing this work. I spent much of my residency testing different materials, exploring how they could be combined, and discovering new ways to work with the SCOBY pellicles I grow in my studio. I was particularly interested in how these translucent, flexible materials could be stretched, draped, and shaped into sculptural forms. Some experiments worked, while others led me in unexpected directions. I also began incorporating materials collected at Bernheim, including fallen branches, invasive vines, and seedpods, allowing their individual characteristics to influence the forms I created.

This installation also marks the first time I incorporated snake sheds into my work. I was fascinated by their delicate structures and the way they preserve the intricate patterns of the snake's skin. A shed is evidence of growth and transformation, but it also has a fragility that interests me. Like the SCOBY pellicles, the sheds are materials produced through a living process, and I was interested in bringing these different forms of growth together within the installation.

Throughout the process, I continued to collaborate with living materials and natural processes, allowing growth, time, light, and the unpredictable qualities of each material to influence how the installation developed. The resulting work reflects both my observations of the forest and the discoveries that emerged through experimentation.

Interwoven is installed in the Visitor Center's Sassafras Room at Bernheim Forest and can be viewed year-round.

Materials: Kombucha SCOBY pellicles, fallen branches, invasive vines, cyanotype, snake sheds, acorn caps, natural dyes, beeswax, wingnut seedpods, and hand-dyed string.

2026 | 20 ft H × 12 ft W × 14 ft D

Click on any image to view the full-size photographs in a slideshow.