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Marcy B. Freedman, Bark Stories

Digital images( (laminated), wooden dowel, metal rings

Artist Statement

This book was inspired by my fascination with the incredible variety and beauty of tree barks. While I can enjoy these barks in their natural state, I could not resist the temptation to alter them – digitally. After creating 100 manipulated barks, I selected 10 of them to be incorporated into a book about an imaginary forest of talking trees. I then allowed these trees to describe their feelings about their bark. In this way, the book has become a metaphor for our own human preoccupation with appearances, our obsession with exterior beauty – especially as it applies to women. Thus, this book fits into my on-going exploration of the position of women in western society. I have explored this topic in collages, photographs, performances, and videos for decades.  And I will continue to do so!