ANEMOCHORY

Angela Richardson / Paul Andrews

ANEMOCHORY [ uh-nem-uh‐kohr-ee ]

Visiting Natural Path Sanctuary draws one instinctively into thinking about transitions: the change of seasons, the cycle of life and death, the shift between motion and stillness.

Our installation hangs from the branches of a box elder tree, Acer Negundo. Like all other trees in the Maple family, it produces 'winged samaras' which twirl to the ground—you probably know them as 'helicopters.' These are the tree’s seeds which spiral downward and plant themselves into the soil below. This dispersal of seeds by the wind is called anemochory.

The whirligigs we’ve added to this setting temporarily are made of blue cotton paper. Nearly a decade ago, Angela handmade that paper by recycling scrapped denim jeans. Those many pairs of jeans had already enjoyed full lives as garments. And of course, before the denim fabric became jeans, it was cotton—grown, harvested, processed, spun, dyed blue with indigo, woven, cut, sewn, and sold.

As our kinetic sculpture dances with the breeze, we hope it inspires contemplation of the many transitions and transformations you’ve made thus far in life…and the many more to come.

Angela Richardson is a passionate collector—of stories and objects and experiences. Selective accumulation is central to her practice as a visual artist and performer. She creates elaborate, artful procedures that allow interaction and collaboration with audiences. Drawing, installation, and dialogue form the foundation of her interdisciplinary work.

Paul Andrews sees the world through a mechanical lens. He’s forever taking things apart, modifying and reconfiguring them. Employing a wide range of skills and technical know-how—from welding and 3-D printing to construction and mold-making—he finds inventive, artistic solutions to every problem that comes his way.

Collaborators in art and life, Paul and Angela weave creative investigation into their everyday existence. Together they’ve assembled large installations for Madison Public Library events Bookless and Stacked, and for the City of Madison’s Municipal show. They’ve put together elaborate costumes and constructed fanciful bicycles. And most every year they invite neighbors and friends to place hopes and dream on The Wishing Tree in their backyard.