'Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring' Opens at WACH

The Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons (WACH) will present “Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring,” an immersive installation and artist talk by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, artist and Webby Awards founder Tiffany Shlain. The show opens with a reception on Saturday, June 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. with an artist talk beginning at 4 p.m. It remains on view through July 31.

In this striking work, Shlain transforms a reclaimed cross-section of a dead cedar tree into a sculptural timeline that traces pivotal moments in feminist history. Dates are burned into the wood’s rings — a medium traditionally associated with the passage of time and the legacy of men. Here, Shlain reclaims the form as a feminist archive, culminating in the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“What if trees could tell the story of women?” says WACH Director Wendy Van Deusen. “What would we see differently if our timelines reflected the experiences and achievements of women rather than the dominant histories of men and empires?”

Part artwork, part history and part provocation, “Dendrofemonology” invites reflection on the ways we mark time, record power and rewrite collective memory.

“While this project has been in the works for the past year, the timing feels particularly poignant,” says Shlain. “We need many more women leaders and feminist perspectives in the world right now. In this work I wanted to give a longer perspective on where we stand and show the back and forth of progress, and how we must keep pushing for the world we want.

“‘Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring’ imagines what alternate histories could be told and reminds us we shape what comes next,” she adds. “I view it as a movable monument. It was installed on the National Mall in Washington D.C., then Madison Square Park, New York, and now, Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons and next an exciting location in the Midwest that will be announced soon.”

Admission to the June 21 reception and talk is free, but RSVP is required. Email info@wachamptonsny.org or visit wachamptonsny.org to reserve a spot. Women’s Art Center of the Hamptons is at 2418 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton.