Love Grows in the Forest

After reading the book The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben I was really moved by his description of the ways trees communicate and live in an almost society like way. He discusses the lives of trees almost as if they are human. Love Grows in the Forest, takes direct inspiration from Wohlelban’s book, focusing on the sentience of trees. This book developed quite spontaneously, beginning with some pressure prints I had made with a tree design, which have become the background layer of this book. Each next step was made in response to what was done before until I came out with a two layer accordion book with intricate hand cutting. The words of my poem inspired by Wohlleben’s book were then woven through this paper forest.

Love Grows in the Forest is a two layer accordion book designed, printed and bound by Elizabeth Castaldo of Forest Magic Press in 2018. It was made using pressure printing, hand set letterpress type, photopolymer, archival inkjet and hand cut paper. The book measures 10 inches tall and stretches to 55 inches long when fully opened. It was produced in an edition of 15, with collaphon signed and numbered by the artist.