2025 · Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, California
Fallen redwood, eucalyptus, cherry, and oak branches
Parascord
Dimensions variable

I made two xylophones from branches found on the ground near the villa: the first from redwood, eucalyptus, and cherry, the second from oak. What began as simple carving evolved through serendipitous collaboration with other artists in residence. Jesse Gilbert fine-tuned the arrangement, Viviana Paredes added gold, and we suspended the instrument between trees. The sound it produced became part of I Am Arte: A Ritual in Love with multidisciplinary artist Jenn Johns.

This was the most interactive of my projects at Montalvo. Shared meals, spontaneous ideas, and creative exchanges reminded me that art and agriculture, rooted in patience and observation, cultivate the resilience we need today.

Part of my 2025 residency at Montalvo Arts Center.