We Know This Forest
“We Know This Forest” is a collaborative project that uses the forest as a living metaphor for chronic illness, healing, and shared endurance. The woods represent uncertainty—winding paths, changing light, moments of beauty alongside moments of fear or fatigue. There is no single trail, no clear map, and no promise of an easy way out.
Rather than framing illness as a solitary battle, this project centers on companionship, acknowleging that survival, resilience, and meaning are often collective acts. It honors the quiet ways people walk alongside one another—sometimes leading, sometimes resting, sometimes simply staying close enough to be heard.
Through imagery, language, and reflection, the project invites viewers to slow down, notice moments, and accept nonlinear progress. Getting lost is not failure; stopping is not weakness. The woods hold grief and wonder at the same time.
Ultimately, “We Know This Forest” is about presence: choosing connection over isolation, curiosity over fear, and tenderness over urgency. It offers a shared space where uncertainty is allowed, stories overlap, and no one is expected to find their way alone.
Flyer image: Call for Participation
2025 - At the time that I was starting to exhibit “Never out of the Woods” installation (shown above), I was also organizing a regional collaboration, The Honeycomb Project.
The Honeycomb Project is a vibrant collection of 900 art panels created by 500 participants from 14 states, that explores the metaphor of the honeycomb, highlighting themes of interconnectedness, collaboration, and community strength. The collection of work is being shown in 11 venues within the next 3 years. The power of sharing one another’s stories and making art together led me to the collaboration idea of “We Know This Forest,” When I began to talk about the idea at a couple of my exhibits (The Davis Gallery in Geneva, NY and TMCC in Reno, NV), viewers were excited about the prospect and encouraged me start the planning process. I know this new collaboration is going to need more funding than The Honeycomb Project and will take three years to finish before exhibiting.
The first workshop will be held in Montana, April 2026. I will be a resident artist at the Traveler’s Rest State Park and will be reaching out to local artists and printmaking facilities to gather participants in the first regional “forest making and story telling” collaboration. (Workshop Flyer submitted in images.) Participants will work together to design the “tree metaphors” after visiting the state park. The “upside down” trees are designed to reflect the memories of place from the participants attending the workshops. Participants are self identified as having a chronic illness or condition that limits their ability to sustain mobility for long periods of time. Participants’ feet will also be cast with plaster and then each person will design the floor piece that their feet will be placed upon. The “ground” substrate is a 12” diameter wood panel.
There is a blogging and book component to the project, so participants will be asked to write about their experiences, similar to what was documented in The Honeycomb Project and NV AWE: Tiny Treasures.
Workshop Schedule for 3 days:
Day 1 - Morning: Inspiration and research through walking, talking, taking photos, writing and drawing in sketchbooks - focusing on the trees. Afternoon: Collaboratively draw the the upside down “tree” designs for carving.
Day 2 - Learn woodcut techniques and collaboratively start to carve on the wood panels.
Day 3 - Morning: Casting feet and continue carving. Afternoon: Begin to design and create the base for your feet (this may be taken home and finished and then shipped to Candace.)
If you would like to be involved in this project or would just like to know more about it, please contact me. I would love to chat with you!
