Having already planned a recycled Christmas tree installation with a Brooklyn for gallery next year, Neff decided to create something on the streets of Williamsburg, and chose this long abandoned gated spot under the BQE. Scouring the streets with his friend, the pair collected the used up trees that crowded the side walks of Brooklyn (which could have been recycled at Mulchfest, instead of throwing them at the curb).
And so Neff hauled a dozen or so dead trees to his chosen spot, which is a stone’s throw from the Lorimer Street L stop as well as many bars and restaurants in the area. Hoisting each tree up, he hung them with heavy twine at the same level, along a horizontal pipe under the overpass. Hanging in unison, the row of trees sways in the wind like ghosts of Christmas past, but also evoke a somber undertone, like bodies hanging from nooses.
Neff’s installation is beautiful, infusing greenery in a stark industrial landscape, even if the trees are dead. But the sheer amount of trees hanging together also brings the excess of Christmas to mind. Intentional or not, the hanging trees are a visible example of our throw away culture. Neff’s installation feels at once like a vigil to the fallen trees, but also as a way to bring nature to a forgotten industrial setting.
All images © Michael Neff
very thoughtful and eye-catching, even if it’s not an evergreen installation