Event
Tree Spa for Urban Forest Healing
Thursday, March 21 | 6 – 10 PM
Tree Spa open for Steam Spa Sessions during Creative Cocktail Hour
The Tree Spa for Urban Forest Healing uses commercial maple syrup production equipment to produce steam for a functional steam room, creating a healing venue for environmentally-charged conversations and experiences.
This social/public project by Colin McMullan, has multiple community partners in Hartford, including Keney Park Sustainability Project, the Hartford Maple Syrup Club, and KNOX.
The Tree Spa provides a space to think about histories of land connection and displacement in the settlement of New England.
The project represents a vision for synthesizing complex social and environmental issues, by a holistic approach to building urban/rural community and reconnecting with the Earth.
Spa Operating Hours*
Saturday, March 16 | 10 – 6 PM
Sunday, March 17 | 12 – 6 PM
Thursday, March 21 | 6 – 10 PM
Saturday, March 23 | 12 – 6 PM
Special Events
Pancake Breakfast – Saturday, March 16 | 10 AM – 3 PM
This project starts with an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast including real maple syrup and real butter. Hartford-made maple syrup will be on sale, as well as refreshments and Real Art Ways regular concessions. During this time the Tree Spa, a functional steam room for group relaxation, will be open. Tickets for this event are $10/person, with additional $10 for a half-hour Tree Spa Session. BYOB to participate in the “Bring Your Own Batter” competition.
Tree Spa Sessions – Thursday, March 21 | 6 – 10 PM
Sign up for a half-hour Tree Spa Session during our monthly Creative Cocktail Hour.
Community Panel Discussion – Saturday, March 23 | 4 – 5 PM
A discussion on the project, featuring artist Colin McMullan and a panel of speakers:
– Shubhada Kambli, Sustainability Coordinator from the Office of Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin
– Chris Newell, Passamaquoddy Indigenous Educator and Director of Education at Akomawt Educational Initiative and Educational Supervisor at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
– Herb Virgo, Founder and Director of Keney Park Sustainability Project
– Lauren Little, Environmental Education Coordinator at KNOX
– Colin McNamara, Steward Chair from Manchester Land Trust
– Moderator: Linda Weintraub, curator, educator, artist, and author of books about contemporary art with emphasis on environmental consciousness.
The event is free and all are welcome.
Click here to learn more about this project.
About the Artist
Emcee C.M., Master of None is the pseudonym of Colin McMullan. He has a practice of active, cooperative, social, public art often utilizing vehicles, play, conversation, moving pictures, publications, and food, for which he has received institutional support from LMCC, IPG, CAG, ISCP, CUE, CBA, BHK, BBBP, Eyelevel BQE, ICA Yerevan, Smack Mellon, Skowhegan, Bronx Museum, Queens Museum, Flux Factory, the Aldrich, Artspace, i-park, el Taller Boricua, and Real Art Ways.
He is currently based in Hartford, Connecticut, performing transnational “Experimental Research on the Nonexistence of Borders” and operating the “Tree Spa for Urban Forest Healing.” Recent professional highlights include shows at Dorsky Gallery in New York, Real Art Ways in Hartford, the Museum of Modern Art in Yerevan, Armenia.
Learn more at this link.
Originally commissioned by Artspace, Inc, for City-Wide Open Studios with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
