DAY 200

DAY 200
10.21.07
TREE 123

I went to Norman’s again this Sunday for another dinner and movie.  I showed up around 6 to Norman and Gus sitting on the front porch.  We helped Norman move some wood in his barn to make room for his tools.  Then before we were going to fix dinner I climbed a tree to catch the strong light.  This time I chose to climb a sycamore back behind Norman’s house by the creek.  The tree I climbed was part of a clump of sycamores growing and leaning towards the setting sun.  As often those trees are, the lower branches were small and dying. 

I stayed close to the trunk on my foot and hand holds and worked my way upward trying to avoid getting entangled in the crusty, brown vines.  About twenty feet up the vines ceased to grow and the branches were stronger.  I had to inch upward on limbs to reach the next highest branch and lift up my legs to secure my place.  My stomach muscles ached in soreness from the day’s earlier flipping at the open gym.  It’s challenges like this that have to be completely ignored and overcome in order to reach the treetop. 

I executed this movement over and over about six times till I had reached my stopping point at the top.  Here the leaves looked sickly and brown. 

The drought has really made those trees an ugly sight.  In comparison to the maples, oaks, and other such deciduous trees who have managed to overcome the lack of water and quickly turn to oranges, yellows, and red in the past week. 

I tied my ribbon and took some pictures of my surroundings. 

The sun was just over the distant trees. 

I rested then started to make my way down still surprised at how easy going down has become for me.  Easy on my abdominal muscles too.  When I reached the ground the sun had gone behind the trees.  My clothes were covered in a white dust from the sycamore trunk I hugged and slid down on the last few feet.  I brushed off this dust and bark particles with a feeling of accomplishment ready for food, the sauna, a dip in the lake, a movie while laying in the grass, and the long cold night curled up in my sleeping bag. 

10-26-08:  I was recently hanging out with Norman and we were talking about my tree climbing.  He realized that for as long as he has known me, I have climbed a tree everyday.  He has never known the Todd that has not let 24 hours go by without climbing a tree.  (Wow that sentence has a lot of negatives in it.)

I will now discuss with you my tree climbs from Monday, October 20th, 2008.  I drove up to Dublin, Ohio for my opening reception for my body shell installations.  I got there early, around 3:30, so I could climb a tree and check out my bodies.  I chose to combine that process by climbing all the trees with my bodies.  I started with the tree by the playground which I had climbed before to install one body.  It was the only tree I climbed to install.  All the others I used the bucket truck.  So up I went and stopped at the body.  It all looked good, no problems.  I climbed down without taking any pictures because I had climbed it before.  I thought I’d save it for another tree. 

I headed over to the tree by the creek.  I had climbed this tree on my first visit to Dublin earlier in the summer.  It took me a little bit of time to figure out how I had gotten up into the branches from the knobby and twisted trunk, but I got there.  I took a couple shots of my body.

Then I climbed back down and walked over to the third sycamore tree by the skate park.  When I got to the bade of the trunk I realized I could possible climb this tree by wedging myself between the large split trunks but it would be arduous and dirty.  I was wearing my nice clothes for the opening so I chose to skip this tree even though I have never climbed this tree. 

I walked on over to the large Burr Oak by the other park entrance.  I decided this would be the tree I documented as my daily climb.  I had never climbed it before and it looked like a good challenge.  The trunk is massive with undulating curves and crevices which made it possible to climb to the lowest branch.  I looked up from there and was hoping I could get very high in this large tree, but there were no easy paths I could see.

I stuck near to where all the major limbs split off from the trunk.  This is also where a large collection of animal droppings were.

I moved around these large branches and took some pictures of my body far out on a limb, one of a squirrel, and one of me.

I caught myself licking my lips.  Then I climbed down back to the lowest branch and instead of lowering myself down on the trunk I chose to crawl out that branch and drop to the ground from the end.  But before I did, I took a couple more shots of my body.

I had also photographed all the plaques that marked my bodies.

When I was done I got ready for the opening.  They had the pavilion all set with burning fires and really good food.  But rather than all the artists mingling there, they had us take balloons and chairs to sit next to our work.

Then, I waited as the sun began to lower and the temperature dropped.  At least I was near the skate park so I could watch them.  Eventually the first gold cart tour came up.

Members of the city council were here to take tours of the art and later will vote on which work to purchase for the permanent collection.  The sporadic visits from council members went on for about an hour an a half.  Some locals walked by and I talked with them, answered questions, and handed out my bio.  The response to my work was quite positive and that felt good.  Everyone was surprised to find out that the work was cast from my body.  Cassandra, Jason, and Ani showed up towards the end I was able to show them around to all of my pieces.  I also got to finally go to the pavilion and warm up and eat some food.  Then after it was over all the artists and staff went out to eat.  That was really great to finally talk to the other artsts. 

All in all, it was a good event.  I would say for next time it would be better to not hold it on a Monday evening, and to perhaps do artist guided tours, or just answer people’s questions near the food and fire.  I had a good time and I can’t wait to get back there to show my family and friends.