EXHIBIT–Glendale Tree Stories

GLENDALE–Glendale Tree Stories is a public story-sharing project that celebrates the Glendale community’s unique, multifaceted, and historic relationship with trees. This project, led by City of Glendale’s Public Works Department, aims to create a project that fosters communication, stewardship, and consensus in the community around preserving the urban forest for future generations. Between 2020 and 2022, the Tree Stories Project Team collected story submittals from Glendale residents about their favorite trees, researched local history, and interviewed community leaders for a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and preservation of Glendale’s most popular parks and open space destinations. For the project’s final print exhibit, “Coexisting: Glendale Tree Stories,” the project artist, Elkpen, transformed a selection of this material into a series of eighteen comics, mixing personal stories from the community with local natural history, tree lore, and reflections on urban nature. The Project Team is still collecting story submissions from the public. Interested participants can submit their tree stories through the City’s online portal or by visiting the Glendale Central Library during regular business hours. “Coexisting: Glendale Tree Stories” on view now through May 7, 2022 at the Glendale Central Library in partnership with ReflectSpace Gallery’s exhibit “As the Earth Wanes: Considering Climate Change.” A special Glendale Tree Stories installation will also be open for public participation at the City of Glendale’s Earth Day Pop-Up Fair on April 23. All tree story submissions, along with Elkpen’s comics, will be archived online and available to the public. The exhibit’s closing reception will be hosted by ReflectSpace Gallery on Thursday, May 5, from 6 – 9 pm at the Glendale Central Library.  The Glendale Tree Stories project artist, Elkpen, and Humanities Advisor, Stephanie Landregan, will participate in an Artist and Activist Talk that evening at 7 pm. This event is free and open to the public. This project is supported by a Humanities for All Project Grant.