Wonders of D.C. Trees
Exhibit Dates and Locations:
April 1—May 30, 2025: MLK Library, Floor 1 (West)
June—September: Neighborhood Library Locations
Featured Artists: Anne Bouie, Lisa Conway, Luc Fiedler, Margery Goldberg, Ronni Jolles, Ibou N’Diaye, Larry Ringgold, Foon Sham, Ellen Sinel, Jed Smalley, Lynda Smith-Bugge, Bradley Stevens, Jennifer Wagner, and Robert Weston
The Wonders of D.C. Trees showcases an eight-panel traveling exhibition (funded by Events DC) and is accompanied by original artworks using tree themes to celebrate DC’s leafy canopy. Included in this exhibition are sculptures, paintings, and mixed media. Accompanying artworks not only take trees as a starting point, but also exploits arboreal remains like bark, twigs, driftwood, lumber, or tree pulp as the medium. Subjects vary widely. A path through the woods evokes the stark enchantment of Rock Creek Park. Contrasting veneers suggest the shape of trees. A heron haunts the swampy sphere of cattail and deadfall. Steps lead upward to nature’s cathedral door. In addition, there is figurative work carved in wood and a painting of an elm in front of the iconic Smithsonian Castle.
The traveling exhibition of collapsible panels was developed in partnership with Casey Trees, who provided the content and graphics for the panels. These panels bring awareness of the many roles trees play in building a greener and more climate-resilient city for future generations. Attention is given to street beautification and park greenspace, and the selection of different species to best complement the architectural scale and character of distinctive settings. Flood and erosion control, as well as wildlife support, also figure in the mix of arboreal impacts. The panel on recycling features ZCAF’s own experience converting downed local trees into dried lumber for the Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry Training program.
This is the third location of the Wonders of DC Trees exhibit in its circuit of notable D.C. venues. It has drawn visitors to Zenith Gallery, a hub of the local art community, and to the Embassy Row Hotel at Dupont Circle, a strategically located magnet for D.C. tourists. Following its stop at the MLK Library, the exhibit will travel to the following locations:
- June - Southwest Neighborhood Library 900 Wesley Pl SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
- July - Palisades Neighborhood Library 4901 V St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
- August - Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library, 3660 Alabama Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20020
- September - Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 1801 Hamlin St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20018
Learn more about the exhibit at the Zenith Community Arts Foundation website.
