< SPECIAL PROJECTS

Through our continued exploration and experimentation with ash wood a pattern of growth has emerged. The small sapling is expanding. Its sprawling branches sprouting new buds of glowing light. This wall lighting system is part of our Ash Out of Quarantine project which seeks to bring to light the devastating effect an invasive species will have as Toronto loses nearly a million ash trees to the imported emerald ash borer beetle. Fragments of our city's missing canopy will be salvaged to create different ideas and objects to inspire creativity and awareness.

Ash Out of Quarantine is an ongoing project, we are speaking with members of Economic Development with the City of Toronto about the future potential of these trees and others at risk.

Read more on LEAF, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement of the urban forest.

Tumbling Ash - New Growth was on display at ARTiculations earlier this year and a sample piece also graced the window of The Beau & Bauble, both in the Junction. Big thanks to DesignLines for the Love tag. 

Have a look through the gallery below for more:

Ash Out of Quarantine

Toronto is in the midst of a foreign invasion. Close to a million ash trees will fall over the next five years due to this invader. A stowaway of globalization, the emerald ash borer beetle traveled to North America in a shipping container over a decade ago and has since left a path of destruction across numerous states and provinces. With little that can be done to stem the inevitable elimination of every ash tree, focus must be put on what to do with the carnage. Brothers Dressler are embarking on a journey to bring the potential of ash to the public eye. We are focusing much of our new work on bringing Ash out of Quarantine. 

Tumbling Ash is a first step to promote the use of this material and its properties.  A cascade of branching limbs tumble down the wall cradling budding fruit of hand-blown globes softly lit with LEDs. Using our branches system comprised of steam bent wood components with nodal connections as a starting point this piece is meant to evoke thought about material use and an awareness of resource life cycles. Mixed with the ash parts are some elm from a Toronto tree lost to Dutch Elm disease and walnut sap wood which is usually discarded in the milling process. This modular system of assembled parts can continually evolve and expand as will our awareness of the materials and resources that surround us and their limited nature.

CUSTOM

2012

RESOURCES:

LEAF

City of Toronto

Initiated and produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.