In Moving a Tree I create a surreal, yet familiar world in which I push physical limits as my characters engage in absurd tasks.

In this movie, the protagonist fells a decaying walnut by hand, carries the logs on his back to the top of a nearby hill, and reconstructs the pieces into a tree-like monument.

Drawing inspiration from early cinema and contemporary performance artists, I craft this visual yarn with moments from my family history in mind. The personal stories, implicit in the narrative, enhance the sense of sincerity and intimacy in the film. Moving a Tree re-presents the story of my maternal grandfather’s struggle with dementia and how my grandmother came to cope with the gradual deterioration of her husband’s mind and body.

I present the film in a carefully curated environment to heighten the immediacy of the work for the viewer. The film, shown on large, flat-screen television, is surrounded by custom wallpaper, character drawings and objects from each production.

Moving a Tree at 1708 Gallery in Richmond, VA June 22 - August 4, 2012

Moving a Tree at SCOPE Miami Art Fair November 27 - December 4, 2011

Moving a Tree at (e)merge Art Fair Washington, DC September 24 - 28, 2011

The Second Trailer

The First Trailer