Trees that remain in place decades or even centuries after noteworthy events are referred to as witness trees. Many were young when the events took place and have grown to be large, silent sentinels of history. In the early 1800s, surveyors in Illinois planted “bearing trees” as landmarks to grid the ground. After centuries of development, many are still around today and are documented in the Witness Tree Project. This project is a collaboration of The Morton Arboretum, The Field Museum, University of Notre Dame and the PalEON Project, and US Geological Survey.

The 2021 Chicago Biennale establishes “new Witness Trees” that record this year’s events but more importantly events that have shaped this epoch; a time of pandemic, a time of racial reckoning, a time of police brutality and reform, and a time of climate crisis.

The new Witness Trees installation is inspired by the state's orthogonal grid. Tree grids are scaled to the site: at the corner of 63rd and South Woodlawn, a grid is painted on the lawn (160 foot square area) at 10 foot intervals; a grid of 16 Bald Cypress trees sit at the site's center and at its perimeter a scrim fence projects the grid to the third dimension, recording the shadows they cast. Through the planting of southern trees in northern land, the new Witness Trees invoke the history of the Great Migration and establish a Spirit Grove to keep the neighborhood safe. Reminiscent of the southern tradition of bottle trees (not the end…and death will not end our fight), visitors are asked to record a sentiment or message of witness onto a reflective foil that is then tied to the tree branches. As fall gives way to winter, the grove glistens with light and reflection. Once spring returns the new Witness Trees will find a new home with residents of the southside, witnessing a new history.

2021 chicago biennale

Chicago, IL | September 2021-December 2021