THE SURVIVOR FOREST

Finding healing together with other survivors, in our trees.

A Project by Joanne Kirves

I make trees. I have been making ceramic trees since my return to art in 2020.

I was talking with a fellow survivor and writer, Donna Jenson, about my trees. She was encouraging me to keep sharing my story and my trees. She commented how common it is to hear other survivors talk about “their trees,” their hiding places from the abuse. She asked if that was why I made trees.

No. I came to trees through grief after the death of my mom. My mom loved trees. It was how I connected with her. One day in the studio I just began making trees and much of how I processed my grief came to me in visions of trees. After my conversation with Donna, I began to think about my tree. Where did I hide? I, too, had a tree.

My art has been a powerful part of my healing journey. It’s a space where I can go to process my feelings, get them out in clay, and truly be happy. I have always wanted to find a way to share this with other survivors.

Jen Young’s survivor tree by Joanne Kirves.

Photos by Joanne Kirves.

Jen Young’s survivor tree by Joanne Kirves.

Photos by Joanne Kirves.

My conversation with Donna got me thinking. What if I worked with other survivors to tell their tree story and then I would create in clay. I circled back to Donna and asked if she’d like to be my first collaborator. She suggested I write and create my tree first. And so I did.

My process for working with survivors is to first share my tree story. Then send them off to write their own tree story. We meet up on Zoom as needed and then they read their tree story to me. We have a dialogue about their story, the process and connect as survivors. I then create their story in clay.

My first two collaborators were Donna Jenson and Jen Marie. When I realized we would be meeting up in the Boston area in April, I set a goal to complete their trees so I could present them in person.

It was a wonderful process to work with them and to have my work received in such a beautiful way. And now I am on to connect with more survivors!

Both tree projects will be released on my website soon! Visit https://www. joannekirvesart.com/roots to learn about my art and to sign up for an email alert when the trees are released.

Donna Jenson’s survivor tree by Joanne Kirves. Photos by Joanne Kirves.

Photos by Joanne Kirves.

Donna Jenson’s survivor tree by Joanne Kirves.

Photos by Joanne Kirves.