Private Commissions

Tree Textile

2009

Commissioned by Andrew Zuckerman and Nicole Bergen, Cold Spring, New York
Medium: Fabric trimmings (elastic)
Dimensions: 12 x 3 x 1 ft.
Photographer: Courtesy of the artists

Commission Overview
In 2009, Andrew Zuckerman and his wife, Nicole Bergen, invited us to create a site-specific intervention on their property in Cold Spring, New York. At the same time, our relationship with Lucien Zayan and the Invisible Dog Art Center was just beginning, and he had gifted us thousands of rolls of fabric trimmings from the building’s former factory. Among them was a cache of purple and navy elastic—materials we had been eager to explore in a natural setting.

Artistic Approach
On a weekend visit to Cold Spring, we worked with a tree that had split into two massive trunks, forming a natural void. Although the tree was no longer alive, we saw it as an opportunity to weave new life into its form. Using the elastics, we wrapped and bound the trunks, creating a vibrant woven wall of textile in the open space between them. The purple and navy bands introduced a rhythmic, vertical stripe, a bold intervention against the forest’s organic backdrop.

Engagement and Impact
The work transformed a quiet void in the woods into an unexpected moment of color and structure. It was simultaneously playful and reverent: a gesture of repair, adornment, and animation. For us, it was a chance to test how our language of textiles could live outdoors, in dialogue with the natural world.

Context and Legacy
Tree Textile was one of our earliest experiments with bringing the materials of the Invisible Dog factory into other landscapes. The purple elastic, in particular, became a signature material that continued to appear in our work for years to come. The project also marked the beginning of a new rhythm in our practice, interventions in both built and natural environments, often made possible through the generosity and collaboration of friends.