Based on a photograph from the series: The Hudson River and the Highlands
A double-sided, 3-panel, standing screen standing 68" tall. Each panel is 30" wide. The trees are black when frontally lit. If you light them from behind they are completely transparent. This would appear exactly the same regardless of which side you viewed. It took nearly a year to develop the proper black dye
The silk-polymer matrix has been selectively hand-dyed and extensive research went into the black dye, in particular, to make it permanent.
Over 400 colors and tones of thread were specifically dyed for this piece.
As many as 30 different stitches were used but of particular note, the "acupuncture stitch" invented for another of Ketchum's embroideries, was used frequently here, AND a new stitch application was invented on this to create different thicknesses of silk thread, sometimes by wrapping one thread around another.
Completed in 2004, there were 3 principal embroiderers and the piece took 6-years.
