Deeply Rooted
TREE PORTRAITS | Encaustic on Wood Board
We hosted Adelyn Duchala as one of two Artist in Residence, in late summer of 2023. Adelyn wandered about and captured the many beautiful old trees of our valley. Viewers will feel as if they have entered a dream, when taking in this ethereal body of work.
Adelyn Duchala graduated from the University of the Arts with a BFA in Photography and currently lives in Philadelphia.
Follow along on her creative journey via Instagram: @adduchalaphoto and on the web at: www.adelynduchalaphotography.com
ARTIST STATEMENT
Trees hold the secrets of life, embodying wisdom and our connection to the natural world. They carry stories of the past, imbuing a majestic presence in each place they stand. They quietly whisper their wisdom through the rustling of their leaves in the wind, branches out stretched, the scars of experience visibly etched in bark, and a complex web of root systems that connect to each other and anchor down into the earth; creating a community and sense of belonging.
A nomadic childhood left me yearning for a place to belong, to call home, to put down roots and firmly grow. I have always felt a kindred connection to trees, they were the constant that I could rely on for acceptance and comfort. Wherever I moved, the trees were always there to welcome me and my thoughts, hopes, and fears. As I developed my art practice, photographing trees became a cathartic exploration representing the interior emotional landscape of my mind. Mounting my imagery to wood boards and utilizing an encaustic wax coating technique, I was able to introduce a unique tactile quality and ethereal atmosphere to the images.
The trees I encountered surrounding Warwick Furnace Farm, in particular Anna’s Oak, told a story of lives once lived, experiences once shared and that which has existed in the history of this valley. Spending time amongst the trees in this landscape, I was met with unexpected emotions, unlocking memories and thoughts I had believed to be neatly tucked away in the corners of my mind. Each tree provided an invitation to slow down, to explore the emotions that were revealing themselves within me, and to hear the messages of acceptance gently whispered. They unlocked an intuitive sense of clarity that wasn’t there before.
I hope this tribute to the trees transports you to a dreamlike meditative state akin to when one silently stands in the presence of a wise tree, reminding you to come back to yourself; to trust, to listen, accept one’s value, to move slowly and grow through that which emerges around you. Inspiring us to be deeply rooted, grounded and open, growing towards the sky, taking up space and allowing the vastness of the world to inspire, to reach further, to be connected and present with all that is here now and all that once was.
ADELYN DUCHALA DEEPLY ROOTED, 2023
No art exhibition opening would be complete without an artistic culinary accompaniment from the talented Dolly Rosen. Each mouth-watering creation was inspired by the art on display, adding an extra layer of creativity to an already visually stunning event.
ABOUT THE ENCAUSTIC PROCESS
Derived from the ancient Greek word "to burn in," encaustic refers to the use of hot beeswax mixed with pigments. Encaustic painting dates back to 1st century B.C, first utilized by Greek artists as a method for preserving paintings.
The contemporary application of encaustic in conjunction with photography emerged in the late 20th century. Wood frames are prepared by sanding, painting the image area with a white coat of gesso, giving the paper a neutral backdrop as the wax application can cause parts of the paper to be translucent and staining of the edges. The photograph printed on paper is adhered to the board. Layers of melted beeswax are painted on top of the photograph. Special paper is used that can withstand the heat of the wax as well as the heat bonding each wax layer receives before another coat of wax is applied. The wax layers are manipulated using various tools, giving the artistic freedom to enhance or obscure different aspects of the photograph. This technique introduces a unique tactile quality and ethereal dreamlike atmosphere to the image.
“Being amongst the stillness and silence of trees is something that has always been deeply healing for me. Trees have always served as a reminder for me to come back to self, to ground, and to be awakened to the greater power that exists beyond any of us. In the presence of trees I am immediately calm, centered and open; I am able to find clarity amongst the chaos and confusion, and be reminded of the vast, interconnectedness that is here on this earth. This often serves as the foundation for my photographic work as I tune into the presence of each landscape and tree. When I was first introduced to the encaustic process many years ago, I felt as if I was finally given a tool that allowed me to be able to convey this feeling I felt so deeply whenever I was in the presence of a tree or in the space I had photographed. The process allowed me to create a little world, to evoke emotion that was felt, but perhaps wasn’t able to be translated through the photo itself. Applying the wax became a therapeutic practice, often times giving room for the photo to reveal its true meaning to me, far beyond the initial intention while first photographing the space. I use the wax to spark emotions, to represent this fleeting memory of another space and time and to stir up whatever is awakened deep within. This emotion, is what fuels each photo, what fuels our time here on earth, what brings us all together and what lies deep within our souls. ”
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