Tree Hugs Proposal

TREE HUGS
Prepared for: Public Art CA Program
Prepared by: Mirena Rhee
May 10, 2021

Proposal For Digital Media Wall At California Natural Resources Agency

Concept

I propose a series of 30 to 90-second films of ephemeral installations called Tree Hugs. On the beautiful tall Media Wall, Giant Trees and Giant Hands will come together for a visual conversation between nature and humanity’s impact on the environment.

Trees are some of the oldest living things on Earth. The hands are the oldest form of figurative art as painted in cave paintings as stenciled handprints.

These films will focus our attention on the ephemeral nature of our existence, the fragile state of the environment, and our relationship with nature.

Method and Medium

The Tree Hugs installations will be specifically created and filmed for the Media Wall. They will be set up in Muir Woods north of San Francisco using 36 paper Giant Hands painted with acrylic paint. The hands will be strewn or draped without any fasteners or adhesives. The installations will be created with no impact or damage to trees or trails, completely non-toxic, and with zero environmental cost. The installations will remain on site for a few hours only to be filmed.

Several 30 to 90 seconds films will be made, filmed in 5K with a Steadycam, and rendered out to 2880 x 3780 pixels in the appropriate H.265 or H.264 MP4 format.

These Tree Hugs films will be the only record of these ephemeral installations and the Media Wall at the California Natural Resources Headquarters and the California Health and Human Services building in downtown Sacramento will be their artistic home.

The Giant Hands and their meaning

The Tree Hugs Installations will consist of 36 Giant Hands made of bond paper all painted differently symbolizing people from all kinds of ethnic backgrounds. The Giant Hands represent our diversity and our fragile relationship with Nature.

Artist’s connection to California, trees, the natural environment and the hand

Before moving to New York City I spent my formative years as an artist in the San Francisco Bay Area. I worked as a senior and lead Video Game Artist for blockbuster franchises like Star Wars, Iron Man, Shrek, X-Men.

I also spent 10 years hiking in Muir Woods, the beaches of Northern California, contemplating the coastal beauty along Highway One and California’s national parks like Yosemite.

The hand is central to my work, an icon and driver of human civilization and culture, the hand has been essential to figurative depiction and handprints are present in cave artworks from 30,000 years ago.

I love trees, I spent my weekends living in California roaming the forests at Muir Woods. My grandpa who was in forestry used to tell me to hug a tree when I was sick to get better.

In response to the lockdowns, I made Tree Hugs and other Giant Hands Installations in Central Park.

It is my dream to work with the giant redwoods in Muir Woods and raise awareness of climate change and draw attention to coastal woodlands.

Feasibility

Between 2018 and 2021 I created over 20 Giant Hands installations in and around New York City, and in Central Park. The number of Giant Hands grew gradually from 1 to 36. They have been diligently painted and currently are in my studio in Brooklyn. 

The 36 Giant Hands are made of bond paper and are easily transported rolled and packed into a box no larger than 90 x 40 x 40 inches. They are very light and weigh no more than 10 lbs altogether, and can also be transported on foot and carried in a backpack to remote locations.

I have all the necessary photography equipment and computers for film editing. I will need to rent a Steadycam for filming.

If Muir Woods for some reason cannot be attempted - the alternate location will be Half Moon Bay Moss Beach forest and nearby forested coastal area.

PROPOSAL BUDGET

Equipment rental

Steadicam rental for 1 month - $ 2,000

Artist - travel, accommodation

Flights ( New York to San Francisco, includes extra luggage and oversize luggage ), one month Airbnb accommodation, 1 month car rental, gas, tolls - $ 6,800

Artist fee - production, installation, photography, film editing - $ 5,000

Total Cost - $ 13,800

PROPOSAL TIMELINE

July 1-5, 2021

Travel to San Francisco Bay Area and location scouting at Muir Woods National Monument.

July 5-25, 2021

Giant Hands Installations and Photography at Muir Woods National Monument. Rough and first draft films editing.

July 25-31, 2021

Final draft and final films and digital output for the wall at 2880 x 3780 pixels.

August 1-15, 2021

Rendering to H.265 or H.264 mp4 format, testing and delivery to the Media Wall at the California Natural Resources Headquarters and the California Health and Human Services building.

Prior Work

Download Giant Hands Installations Book here