Synopsis:

Shaw Pong was invited by the MassQ Ball to create an interactive installation for a free, full-day community arts festival in the Arnold Arboretum celebrating artists of color. Over an iterative and responsive 5-month creative process, including site selection, research and exploration of materials available on-site, and sourcing natural found materials (including contributions from collaborators as young as 3 years old!), she constructed a sculptural art piece of two dragons encircling and protecting a “treasure” artwork made of leaves, crab apples and chestnuts. An outer ring around the perimeter of the artwork was outlined and created for audience contributions, with several baskets of natural materials set-up for public usage.

On the day of the event, over 1000 audience members experienced the Secret Grove. With musician collaborators Nyla McDaniel and cellist Matt Williams II, Shaw Pong welcomed participants in a hushed tone to enter and take a mindful walk around the grove. Participants were invited to touch each tree and share an inhale and exhale breath with each tree, and to add their own creative nature art contributions to the outer border of the art-piece. Improvised music on violin, cello and singing bowls created a suspended, out-of-time atmosphere of deep listening and presence.