Pinus Sabiniana 'Wack Bat,' from the PNW tree ID project, multi-media sign, ink, spray paint, lazers, and recycled red oak flooring, 12 x 14 inches, 2022.

Collaborators: Vinny Arnone, David Buckley Borden, Isaac Minottine, and Ian Vierck

This piece is a prototype from the PNW Tree ID Sign project that exhibited at the Trustman Gallery, Simmons University, Boston MA in the fall of 2022.

About the Piece: Pinus sabiniana ‘Wack Bat,’ commonly known as the “grenade pine,” is the most common seed bomb cultivar found west of the Rocky Mountains in North America. The oblong cone with its single stem pin and large ring is rumored to be the inspiration for the fictitious game of “wack bat” in the 2009 cult classic film Fantastic Mr. Fox. As a result of the Andersonian association, the Whack Bat pine strobili are bona fide trophy cones. Caveat emptor; unscrupulous cone traders have been known to pass off the common “ringworm pine” cone (easily identified by its double stem pin) for the premium price of a Whack Bat cone. Nihilo sanctum estne?

About the Project: The PNW Tree ID project builds off the interpretive-sign tradition of identifying trees in situ as educational program for trail users. The series specifically focuses on native tree species found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

The graphic design of the mixed-media signs (recycled oak flooring, india ink, acrylic paint, and lasers) are intended to tell botanical tales that are ancient, unfolding, complex, and even speculative in nature.