Encased in a Timberbox
Wildfire Perimeter Maps  ||  Stories and Impressions

Wildfire Perimeter Maps

Stories and Impressions

In Encased in a Timberbox, I combine California landscape photographs with images of smoke to suggest wildfire scenes. In Stories and Impressions, the images reference personal encounters, and in Wildfire Perimeter Maps, I place the combined images inside the perimeter shapes of the largest wildfires in California history. Sixteen have happened in the last twenty years, and four of those have occurred in the last three years.
 
In response to this project, people have poured out stories of emergency, loss, and fear. I have heard about 1 a.m. evacuations, destroyed homes, and jitters at the sound of helicopters or the smell of smoke. I am very intrigued by how these recountings may provide catharsis for those affected by the fires. This project is my response to the tragedy, grief, and post-traumatic stress experienced by Californians in the wake of substantively destructive and increasingly common massive wildfires.

Image List
Wildfire Perimeter Maps
1. Mendocino Complex Fire, July 2018
459,123 acres and 280 structures burned, one death
2. Thomas Fire, December 2017
281,893 acres and 1,063 structures burned, two deaths
3. Rim Fire, August 2013
257,314 acres and 112 structures burned
4. Basin Complex Fire, June 2008
162,818 acres and 58 structures burned, two deaths
5. Station Fire, August 2009
160,557 acres and 209 structures burned, two deaths
6. Rough Fire, July 2015
151,623 acres and 4 structures burned
7. McNally Fire, July 2002
150,696 acres and 17 structures burned
8. Stanislaus Complex Fire, August 1987
145,980 acres and 28 structures burned, one death
9. Big Bar Complex, August 1999
140,948 acres burned
Stories and Impressions
1. The Power Will Be Shut Off During High Risk Wildfire Conditions
2. It Spread a Lot Faster Than Expected
3. They Were Trapped
4. The Call Came at 1 a.m.
5. The Antenna Started Melting
6. The Ash Burns Holes in Your Truck’s Paint Job and Your Lungs
7. Only 50% Contained 

Thank you to North Street Collective for their support of this work. Research and development of this project began there during a two-month residency in the summer of 2019.