Pinecones

c. 2019

Natural materials

Dimensions variable

Found object

Personal Collection

These seedless pinecones signify the changing of seasons, and the completion of a pine tree’s annual cycle. The pinecones devoid of their seeds, dropped and left on the ground to decompose, have completed their task, and are returning to the earth, just as every other thing in life will eventually do. And once they decompose, they will allow for other things to have the chance to grow. In this way, they are representative of an older generation who has raised children so those children may have their own and continue the cycle. The pinecones have fulfilled their duty and are now simple reminders of the past - a past that is giving way to the future, but still has the capability to nourish what has yet to come.

During this time of isolation, they are also a reminder of a time when we were unrestricted in our outings. and engagement with our environment These physical objects, used often in such simple things as children’s arts and crafts projects, point to how we must use what we have, and appreciate what is available in the natural world. In a way, this isolation is forcing a lot of us to resort to older customs and practices. Many of us are learning to make our own bread, and to cook with what we have, and the pinecones represent a utility we can find in everyday things. While a trip to the store is typically a common occurrence today, using what we had was the norm in the past. Instead of an art kit bought from the store, these pinecones can find a new life as decorative pieces, or pet toys, or an abundance of other things.

For me, these objects highlight the connection between the past and the future. They remind us of the terribly complex systems that happen in outdoor spaces, manifest in objects so small they could be walked past in a second. The intricacies of nature that happen beyond our perception are things that we overlook constantly, and a simple pinecone provides a glimpse of what has already happened on our doorsteps.

Kayleigh Arsenault