Allegory of Olives, 2003-05

"an allegory of olives" 2003/05: a story telling space

Though many people eat olives, use olive oil in their food preparation, and are familiar with the olive branch as a universal symbol of peace and conciliation, very few Americans know what an olive tree looks like.

How are they cultivated?
What effect has the growth of trees and the production of olives and oil had upon local populations?
What is the future of these noble trees?

The growth and cultivation of olives requires a variety of tools and objects:
Wooden and iron ploughs, shovels, hoes, axes, pruning hooks, saws, long sticks, baskets for gathering, string sacks, wooden jugs, wooden and metal presses, ladles, storage jars.

Individually, each of these objects could appear straightforwardly utilitarian but en masse and in shadow they present an ominous image of struggle. To present this idea, the rotating shadows of tin can cutouts of agricultural tools are projected onto a sheet or wall.

A video considering the growth, harvest and destruction of ancient olive groves is projected onto a large copper pot used in the production of olive oil. The pot contains water and olive oil.

The book presented on a half trunk of olive, examines the practical and symbolic aspects of the growth and use of a valued agricultural product. There is both an English and a Greek version.