Elegy for the Vanishing Forests

Marguerite Elliot, Liz Baxmeyer

One in six tree species are endangered. This installation focuses on five species located across the country that are in danger of becoming extinct due to human caused climate change and loss of habitat. A tribute to the loss and resilience of forests, Elegy for the Vanishing Forests reflects the delicate balance between destruction and renewal. Twisting forms reach for light, urging us to recognize and protect what remains.

The Journey
In the 1800s, explorers sailed wooden ships across vast oceans, discovering the giant sequoias of California. Captivated by their grandeur, they brought seedlings back to France, planting these symbols of aristocracy in front of rural chateaus.

A Modern Pilgrimage
Almost two centuries later, I traveled from my home in Northern California to Lessac, France. Here, in front of the Domaine de Boisbuchet, where I was an artist in residence, stood a solitary sequoia. The Domaine spans 300 bucolic acres in the heart of rural France. As I foraged for local plants to craft handmade paper, I meandered through the woods, recording the melodies of birds.

The Solitary Sequoia
This solitary sequoia drew me in, a majestic tree slowly succumbing to the excessive heat brought by our changing climate. Sequoias thrive in the mountains and coastal regions of California, yet here it struggles. An urge arose within me to return a remnant of this majestic tree to its homeland in California, inspiring my Endangered Tree series.

A Collaborative Installation
I invited sound artist Liz Baxmeyer to collaborate on this installation. I created four large steel trees that represent specific endangered trees in the United States.  She composed a poem and a sound piece for this tree, as well as sound poems for the other endangered trees in the series.

To experience her evocative poems and beautiful sound pieces, please scan the QR Codes provided.

Liz Baxmeyer is an interdisciplinary sound artist, music composer, researcher, and writer based in Sacramento, California. Her work, whatever the medium, is often centered around themes of ecology, feminism, trauma, folklore, and voice--especially where these things intersect