Be ˈKyu̇r-ē-əs! April

Why is there a tree in AMoCA?

The tree in question is Lena's Tree by Judy Richardson (RAiR 1988-89), a 2019 New Mexico transplant (to Magdelena!) since her retirement from teaching in New York. Previous to her east coast experience, Judy worked at the San Francisco Opera painting and sculpting scenery. The large scale, grand constructions had a big influence on her work. "We made and carved a lot of trees and vines," she said in a 2011 interview. While watching television she spied a column that was scalloped like a tree, and it inspired her to start creating “Lena’s Tree”. The title came after the birth of her daughter Lena, as the sculpting of the tree had begun before she knew she was pregnant, made her work like crazy trying to finish it before the "delivery", and then subsequently afterward when her self-imposed deadline was not met. "I actually didn’t finish it until she was almost a year old, since I had to move my studio during that time." At times she even worked on the tree with Lena in a backpack on her back. Lena was 2 years old during Judy's RAiR year. "The grant was like a giant gift to me" as Judy was afraid she would never make art again after having a child and going back to work full-time at the Opera. But she did, particularly because of her RAiR year. "I really love the piece, and wanted to give something I loved so much to Don Anderson." Don traded Judy one of his own small paintings for Lena's Tree.

 See more of Judy's work at  https://judyrichardsonsculpture.com/

As a side note, when Judy gave an image talk about her work during AMoCA's 20th Anniversary celebration (2019), she talked about creating the huge (!) peach - actually two of them - for the movie, James and the Giant Peach! 

Judy Richardson, Lena’s Tree, 1986, painted wood, 88” x 63” x 63”.

Lena’s Tree (detail).