Trees, Fire, Poetry: New Work by Stephanie Von Fange and Luke Cissell

Opening: April 1, 5-8 p.m., featuring a 10-minute, live poetry performance at 6:15 p.m.

In a community closely affected by wildfires, two artists explore the creative energy that can ignite from the fuel of trees. Stephanie Von Fange’s ongoing Black Forest Series of wood block prints on handmade paper memorializes trees lost in the 2013 Black Forest Fire through haunting prints of the rings of the trees’ stumps, using their actual ashes.  In collaboration with the Black Forest community, Von Fange’s series is reclaiming these lost trees for a compelling new life in art. Luke Cissell’s new series of black and white photography depicts local poets “spitting fire” at the mic, fueled by “hot” poems crafted on paper made of trees. His images, set alongside photos of the Waldo and Hayman burn scars, invite the viewer to meditate on the circle of loss and creativity that unites trees, fire, and poetry in an ongoing cycle.

Part of First Fridays Downtown, Pollinate: Biennial Arts Festival, and the Pikes Peak region’s celebration of National Poetry Month