EARTHBALLS

For three months leading up to Art Basel Miami, I worked by lantern-light in a 10x10 storage unit to build my inaugural art installation, EARTHBALLS.  Here, discarded royal palm tree leaves were transformed into an interactive sculpture that promotes curiosity, sustainability, and community involvement.

 

The basic concept came during a walk around my neighborhood in Chicago. I noticed gigantic weeds growing out of the sidewalk and wondered if I could turn this into something. Weeds — typically harmful to native flora — should be removed from their environment. Would weeds be allowed to exist in a different form? Could this destructive vegetation become beautiful and purposeful?

 

As I moved back to Florida, the idea of EARTHBALLS followed me. This time around, I was gifted nearly endless material — 200 royal palm trees lined the street in front of my home and shed colossal bracts daily. These protective coverings around the tops of palms are considered yard waste by landscapers, but I knew they were the perfect material for this project. Each morning before the grounds crew arrived, I salvaged fallen bracts and hauled them off to my secret workshop a mile away.

 

With my sights set on Basel Miami 2024, I worked to transform three small spheres of woven palm into one gigantic statement. The sculpture showcases meticulous craftsmanship, combining tropical palm-weaving techniques with primitive sailing knots.

 

Planted in Collins Park between The Bass Museum and Miami Beach, EARTHBALLS invites a new hands-on experience of art and nature. Unlike conventional artworks that are kept at a distance, EARTHBALLS encourages touch, movement and connection. The statement ROLL ME on the sphere is a basic instruction to play.

 

Aside from the fun physical exchange, this monument to the environment poses questions for deeper reflection. What is the unseen potential of things we throw away? How can we rethink our habits to be more environmentally conscious?

 

I met a ton of incredible people and received a lot of positive feedback during the exhibition. One conversation in particular opened a door for me that I didn’t even know existed. 

 

In a wild twist of fate, EARTHBALLS was donated to The Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, FL. This wildlife sanctuary cares for rescued and retired orangutans and chimpanzees from the entertainment industry, research labs, exotic pet trade, or other situations. EARTHBALLS now resides with Bubbles — the late king of pop, Michael Jackson’s chimp — and his bunkmates. 

 

To learn more about the Center for Great Apes or to make a donation, visit www.centerforgreatapes.org.