The Art of Crossing the Street

Kaitlin Patterson

My sculpture memorializes my love for the woods, and reusing found materials. This tree house symbolizes what and where I would like to live one day, in the woods and in a hand made or refurbished house. Almost everything I used for this project was recycled. I went to the wood shop and took scrap wood, found tree branches outside, an old string of lights and some paper I already had. The fake moss and grass I had to buy at the art store.

I covered the tree in gold leaf because trees are essentially gold. Without trees we would have no air, no wood for houses, shade, and no apples! I put a light inside the house so it seems warm and inviting. In the top window I put a piece of transparent paper with a figure on it so its like someone is there. The moss on the house is to make is seem like the house is harmonious with nature and belongs there.

I do enjoy living in the city right now, but I prefer to be surrounded by trees. I would rather be scared of bears than of robbers. There is nothing like the smell of autumn in the country and the sound of leaves crunching under your feet.

I went a little overboard with this assignment, the sculpture is taller than me, so I didn't have time to finish covering the top of the tree with gold leaf, but I think the feeling still gets across.