The Tree is gone!!! Replaced by concrete. And, I’m beyond devastated.
At the same time, I’m trying to focus on all of the Tree Babies that are thriving. So, I went to visit the USC Tree Baby to try to cheer up.
Many thanks to all the Tree Baby parents!
Today, I returned to the site where the Tree once lived, and I mourned It’s passing.
I will always love The Tree, and I will always miss The Tree.
Many thanks to the Ahmednagar International Short Film Festival for awarding my film, Sick-Amour, “Best Documentary Film”!
I’m excited that my film Sick-Amour will be screening at the Ahmednagar International Short Film Festival in the historical city, Ahmednagar, in India on March 8.
There’s certainly a lot of things to worry about right now. Increased hate speech and hate crimes; fascist, racist rallies; a terrifying US president and cabinet; deportations; global warming; hurricanes… Yet, somehow I retain hope. I’m encouraged by the resistance here and I’m buoyed when I hear about how many of the Tree Babies are thriving. When I started taking care of The Tree in the middle of the parking lot, I never thought that The Tree would have so many offspring and that so many people and institutions would be kind enough to adopt them. Not all of the Tree Babies are still with us, but many are and many of them are thriving. One of them lives in Germany, far apart from its many siblings in Southern California. Smaller than its siblings, it must still be quite happy; as it has been cared for wonderfully by the Haubrok Foundation. This small German Tree Baby can be seen in front of Stephan Adamski’s new gallery space in Berlin as part of an impressive exhibition, organized by film curator Marc Glöde and collector Axel Haubrok with Black Flamingo Projects, called “la > x” – which focuses on artistic viewpoints from LA. The show includes the movie version of Sick-Amour as well as a large photo of The Tree. The opening is tonight (September 12) from 7 – 9 pm at FAHRBEREITSCHAFT (herzbergstraße 40-43, 10365 Berlin). The exhibition, which features works by my former teachers Stephen Prina and Christopher Williams as well as Margaret Honda, will run from September 15 to December 2. The show is open on Saturdays after 3 pm (pre-registration necessary; visit@haubrok.org). It’s also open on september 15 from 7 – 9 pm and on september 16 and 17 from 12 – 6 pm for Berlin Art Week.
I’m heading to LA next week to visit The Tree in the middle of Rose Bowl parking lot K and to celebrate one of its 200 Tree Babies that is growing so beautifully and tall at USC.
The Tree and its Tree Babies began teaching me about love, devotion, and activism quite a long time ago, and they continue to do so today.
They also continue to teach me about family, community, and collectivism. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has offered hugs, water, and other forms of nourishment to the Tree and its Tree Babies.
We are gathering on April 27 in LA for a discussion about what we can do for our environment and for each other, both individually and collectively. We will screen my film Sick-Amour, celebrate the USC Tree Baby, and offer it both water and affection.
It would be wonderful if you could join us.
Click here for details and here for even more info.
The movie is available now on Amazon Prime and Instant Video in the US, UK, Germany, and Japan. Many thanks to Suzanne Harle and Green Planet Films for making that happen!
Sick-Amour and Pumping will be screening at the Transition Town Totnes Film Festival on Sunday November 16th at 6 pm in the Civic Hall (on High Street) in Totnes, England. Afterwards, I will be talking about Sick-Amour, Pumping, and The Sharing Project.
