(Note: This post was set to run a few days ago–its publishing is slightly delayed due to the sudden news about Masters Studio.)
A text I sent to TreeFight founder/photographer/activist David Gonzales (on YouTube) let him know I’d be attending Treeball, Gonzales’ inaugural jamboree to raise funds for his cause: saving our forests from the mountain pine beetle. I cautioned Gonzales he would have to give me a Tree Dance. David didn’t respond, but that’s because he was so busy Tree Planning. Attendance was awesome—it would be difficult to fit many more people in the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s lobby; that night the space was occupied by a big band, serious cameras rolling, wicked sharp axes swinging and lively Contemporary Dance Wyoming dancers. “Tree Tights,” images of beautiful women in filmy gowns perched aloft in pine branches, and “bendy” young ladies were a big lure. Next year, as our dear host heard way more than he wanted to, we women demand gorgeous Tree Men, scantily clad, and some Tree Chippendales.
Gonzales’ passionate, detailed speech provided the party’s heart. Most surprising was the diversity of attendees’ age. Energy was up and expectant; people dressed beautifully! That week curtains of rain, snow and plunging temperatures threatened to sink people’s energy, and there was some concern Treeball could end up a Tree Coffee Klatch.
But Jacksonites have a habit of making last minute decisions, and true to form big numbers of Treeball guests pledged their $50 entry fee, a reasonable ticket price offering a big night. Result: bankers, lawyers, architects, doctors, artists, administrators, conservationists, political operatives, journalists, outfitters, athletes and more poured in. Ice is breaking between our creative generations, and sincere, affectionate regard prevailed. Jackson’s healthily rebellious, super-smart 20 and 30-somethings are weaving themselves into Jackson’s established art galleries and institutions, and vice versa. Such trends stimulate innovation, empowering both (or three, maybe four) generations towards exciting new ideas with potential to become tradition. It’s not such a bad word, “tradition.” All traditions—and sustained activism—begin as something new.
Several TreeFight auction items were still available earlier this week: check them out at http://www.treeball13.com/#/items.
We Tree Fought, we Tree Hugged. Gonzales may tweak a few details for Treeball 2, but I hope he felt the power. The power was there, and its roots are David Gonzales. Axes away! www.treefight.org
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Ten bucks. That’s all it costs to attend SHIFT’s 20/20 presentation, “Me, JH & Nature,” 6-9:00 pm, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Cook Auditorium on Sunday, October 13th. On SHIFT’s website, a $2 “processing” fee is mentioned, an add-on to your ticket price, but when I paid for my ticket online I got away without the $2 fee. Or so it seems.
This 20/20 (20 images, each with a 20 second narrative life span, also known as Pecha Kucha) once again shines a light on ourselves, and what we do to celebrate Jackson Hole’s “natural capital.” Will the films affect change or action? TBD. May we witness Jacksonites displaying efforts in the name of conservation and preservation; may 20/20’s protagonists be inquisitive, probing and exploring new ground, initiating new research—like David Gonzales! The images will be fun to watch; they’ll be creative. A People’s Choice Award of $1,000 will be given for the best presentation. Another $1,000 somehow makes its way to a non-profit; whether the money is distributed directly or through the winning filmmaker is unclear….but find out more! Visit ShiftJH.org or email [email protected].
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Original Print, Woodcut, Edition of 30
On the Western Visions “Still Available” website page the number of items still for sale at this writing is 93. Works remain on exhibit through October 27th, 2013.
Collectors may obtain works by “bidding and buying.” Works include sketches, sculptures, paintings, lithographs, etchings and woodcut prints, all depicting wildlife. You can find all the works on display at the National Museum of Wildlife Art! www.wildlifeart.org
Tammy Christel 
