A few days ago I asked a couple of kids to come over and show me what they would look like if they were a tree. I didn't give them much instruction. More than anything I wanted to see what they would come up with on their own. The results were interesting: one did a yoga tree pose and another looked up at me and said, "Why would I be a tree?" After a little prodding and discussion of what a tree looks like they loosened up and made some tree-like gestures. For the first round, the kids were free to do what they wanted with their arms and their legs. But given this freedom I found that they were constantly trying to balance their top half with their bottom half. I then wrapped a towel around their legs and everything changed. They became more experimental with their arms, suddenly, the top half of their bodies seemed free. The limitations put upon their bottom half, liberated their top.
After the kids left I did the experiment with myself and when I wrapped the towel around my legs I felt completely different. It felt as though I was standing in a foundation that provided me with stability that allowed me more flexibility with the rest of my body. If the legs are stable and feel well supported it seems to allow one to let go of that part of the body and no longer think about it, which frees up the senses to focus elsewhere.
Comments (3)
By focusing on what more a tree has to offer, rather than how the transformation would be limiting (i.e. mobility) I think you will really capture the imagination.
Giving shade, squirrels climbing on you, changing with the seasons, having a root system...all things we don't really get to experience.
Your pictures make me think of blowing in the wind (thats a big childhood memory of trees for me)
Posted by jb![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/mchuri/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 25, 2008 10:10 PM
Posted on June 25, 2008 22:10
Maya, I think your implementation of towels to impart a sense of being a heavily rooted (and/or potted) tree is inspired. I'm sure the kids had fun.
Instead of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," which I think our esteemed colleague was referring to, I'm struck to consider the tree the Keebler Elves live in, Ents, the apple-throwing tree in "The Wizard of Oz," the Forest of no Return in "Babes in Toyland, and the trees in "H.R. Puff'n Stuff."
These raise issues of dwelled-in or evil and good trees, happy and unhappy trees, and downright angry trees. Kinda interesting: trees with personalities.
As for the the things trees experience that we do or don't do: I've shaded others with umbrellas, I've had squirrels climb on me (well, they were ground squirrels), and my skin color and clothing usually change with the seasons.
Frankly, I think the idea of squirrels climbing me, chewing on my bark, and trying to take my nuts to be pretty creepy. So too would be all the bugs crawling under my bark, birds nesting on me, and others nesting in me. And then there are the tree surgeons and plant diseases.
And why, or how, would you implement rhizomes and epiphytes, not too mention photosynthesis? You don't need to create a cypress forest.
I think you did well.
Posted by Wiggledog![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/mchuri/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 27, 2008 4:03 PM
Posted on June 27, 2008 16:03
Actually, I feel like a tree every time I pick up my roots and leave :)
Posted by Yabu![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://interactive.usc.edu/members/mchuri/nav-commenters.gif)
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June 27, 2008 6:07 PM
Posted on June 27, 2008 18:07