Phoenix from the Ashes

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The emerald ash borer may have decimated Madison’s ash tree population, but 15 area artists have used both the tragedy and the lumber to create a multimedia exhibit addressing the woodland crisis. The project was jointly sponsored by Madison Parks, the Madison Arts Commission and Wisconsin Urban Wood. The reception on Overture’s Rotunda stage will feature Aaron Granat’s documentary short, From the Ashes, and presentations by city forester Marla Eddy and Ho-Chunk artist and scholar Tom Jones. The exhibit runs through Oct. 27 on Overture Center’s lower level.

SUN, AUG 25 – SUN, OCT 27. Reception FRI, SEP 6 from 6 PM – 8 PM.

press release: The Playhouse Gallery at the Overture Center of the Arts is proud to present Phoenix from the Ashes exhibition featuring work by renowned local artists selected by the Madison Arts Commission.

The exhibition will be held in the Playhouse Gallery on the lower level of the Overture Center for the Arts from August 24 through October 27, 2019

Phoenix from the Ashes is a unique partnership between Madison Parks, Madison Arts Commission, and Wisconsin Urban Wood transforming local ash wood into works of art.  This culmination of a citywide ash wood reclamation project was funded by the Madison Community Foundation. The exhibition will feature the work from: Eric Adjetey Anang, Gene Delcourt, Thomas Ferrella, Aaron Granat, Roald Gunderson, Richard Judd, Aaron Laux, Tom Loeser, Paul Morrison, Andrea Oleniczak & Taylor Kurrie, Sylvie Rosenthal, and Katherine Steichen Rosing.

In addition to the Phoenix from the Ashes exhibition, an opening reception will be held on September 6, 2019, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Rotunda Stage including the debut screening of Aaron Granat’s documentary film short, “From the Ashes,” City Forester Marla Eddy discussing the impact of the emerald ash borer in Madison, Ho-Chunk artist and scholar Tom Jones talking about the cultural impact the dwindling ash population is having on Ho-Chunk basket makers, Paul Morrison speaking about the potential of incorporating plans for reuse, and ending remarks by Tom Linfield from Madison Community Foundation. Fresh Hot Press and OM Villages artisan market will also be part of the event with products made and inspired from local available for purchase.

As ash trees, destined to die due to the emerald ash borer infestation much of the wood was transported to Wood Cycle of Wisconsin, an urban wood supplier and maker in Oregon, Wisconsin. There the wood was kiln dried, milled, and distributed to local nonprofits, high schools for class instruction, and artists for sculptures and installations.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has expressed in her words: “The Phoenix from the Ashes project is a great example of the power of arts-based civic engagement to be a catalyst for deeper conversations about issues impacting our community. I hope that the final exhibition and opening programming help Madison residents become more informed and engaged in the process of forming the best urban forestry policies to ensure a healthy, diverse urban tree canopy throughout our city, for generations to come.”

“In celebration of Madison Community Foundation’s 75th anniversary, we wanted to help celebrate Madison’s natural beauty and its art and artisan community. Helping reclaim the many downed ash trees allowed us to work with the Madison Arts Commission and turn a devastating environmental story into one of renewal, repurpose and creativity,” says Tom Linfield, vice president of community impact at Madison Community Foundation. “Madison Arts Commission, Madison Parks Department and Wood Cycle were wonderful partners, and the wide variety of art made by this group of artists is astonishing.”

Aaron Laux reflected on his experience as an artist for the show: “Working on the ‘Phoenix from the Ashes’ project over the past year has been an emotional experience for me. As a woodworker, outdoorsman and lover of the natural world, I had assumed that there would always be ash trees in our Wisconsin cities and forests. But now, with the outbreak of the emerald ash borer infestation, all American ash species are threatened. It breaks my heart to realize that this could be one more loss to add to the mountain of lost things that my daughter will miss out on in her lifetime.”

Phoenix from the Ashes is generously supported by a major grant from Madison Community Foundation’s Year of Giving with additional funds from the Madison Arts Commission and Overture Center for the Arts. The Phoenix from the Ashes exhibition is one of the many events that is part of the Year of the Environment a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Nelson Institute and Earth Day.