Thicket

Thicket
2025
wood, paint, mixed media
24" x 24" x 18"

When 2025 was only a few days old, I was trying to make sense of the world on personal and political levels. The word "thicket" seemed to be the best way to describe how I felt, so I started reading about them while trying to figure out how I could build one. Thickets are an important habitat for birds and many other living creatures. They provide not only protection, but a food source for the animals that dwell inside. Animals claim their own personal territories within larger thickets, kind of like an apartment complex. Thickets are an important habitat for wildlife, and one that is disappearing due to the ever expanding human footprint. 

This was one of the most challenging pieces I've made. I had this idea about how it would appear to be a mess in some ways, but also contained in a cube-like form. I needed it to be strong but look fragile.  I wanted viewers to be able to look inside to find leaves, bugs and one little bird. That bird appreciates the protection, but can also see the way out, back into the world.

photos by Mario Gallucci