Under a Simple Tree is where community is formed. It’s under the shade of a tree where all people meet, play and council. A shade tree is a large tree whose primary role is to provide shade in the surrounding environment due to its spreading canopy and crown, where it may give shelter from sunlight for people who seek comfort.
Hampton Art Lovers Presents Works by Brandon Clarke
Local artist Brandon Clarke was commissioned by curator Christopher Norwood and Hampton Art Lovers to produce the artworks for Under a Simple Tree, which was at Green Space Miami from May to August 2024.
Clarke's artwork showcased the neighborhood trees of Miami-Dade, while sharing the stories that connect them to their communities. His mixed media works for this exhibition included natural material like leaves and bark, offering a multi-dimensional experience for visitors and enthusiasts.
Under a Simple Tree not only celebrates the beauty of nature but also prompts us to consider the environmental and social implications of tree canopy disparities. -Christopher Norwood, Cofounder of Hampton Art Lovers
Shady Tree Speaker Series
The exhibition aimed to spark conversations about environmental justice and empower communities to advocate for equitable tree policies. It included a Shady Tree Speaker Series on topics such as GeoAg, the study of growing plants in rocks.
The series highlighted innovative methods to grow and sustain vegetables, fruits, and flowering plants with limited to no soil, and without fertilizers. For communities that are dominated by asphalt and limited tree canopy, the use of gravel in the cultivation of crops may represent the most resource-efficient method of growing crops.
There was also a two-day summit where policymakers, neighborhood associations, and residents participated in workshops to build consensus and solutions on increasing tree canopy in African-American neighborhoods and other working-class communities.
Credits
The esteemed committee that organized these events include Christopher Norwood, J.D. (Hampton Art Lovers), Trudy Gaillard, Ph.D. (FIU College of Nursing & Health Sciences), Jennifer Tisthammer (Chief Conservation Officer – Miami Dade County Parks), Rebecca Friedman, Ph.D. (Wolfsonian – FIU Public Humanities Lab), Marcie Washington, Ph.D. (FIU Commons for Justice), Valeria Montero-Guerrero, MS (Environment Specialist FPL) and Marvin Dunn, Ph.D. (Teach The Truth Garden – Overtown – Miami Center for Racial Justice). A selection of these committee members led Shady Summit discussions and conducted workshops.