Author: Todd Smith

Hi! I am an interdisciplinary artist and committed educator. From 2007-2010 I climbed a tree everyday and documented the project with photography, video and writing on this blog. I am revisiting the trees and writing again starting March 2018. Stay tuned. My work considers our collective impact on the urban environment. Projects range from community-based, data-driven projects interpreting bike usage into sound, photography and video series exploring human movement through urban structures and green spaces, and interactive sculptures that vary in their use of found materials, analog technologies, and emerging digital media. I currently teach a variety of 2D, 3D and digital subjects at universities in the Louisville, Kentucky area.
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DAY 5

DAY 5
04.09.07
TREE 6

This has been my favorite climb so far. The tree was just on the edge of a creek and leaned right over it. Though I was quite sore from yesterday’s activities, I climbed very high. There were no leaves yet, only these small buds at the ends of the branches. I relaxed on my perch, and though I was scared, I felt extremely comfortable, content, and amazed with the view down to the creek.

4-9-08: It was pretty amazing how I managed to climb being so sore that day. I mean I was in so much pain I could barely walk, stairs were practically impossible, and I struggled to get to that tree on the other side of the lake at the Mount. But after I started climbing my muscles loosened up and I felt so much better. That is when I first noticed the healing properties of tree climbing.

Yesterday I went out around the house again to climb and practice some parkour. I brought my camera along and made some videos. I figure I need to start making videos to get better for future art projects. All the videos below are unedited. I need to start working on that too.

I’ll go chronologically-
Here I am in my parents’ back yard. On the other side of the fence is an empty wooded lot with one collapsing barn. It has not been developed because the protected turkey buzzard has a nest in that barn. Sorry for the camera shake, I attached it the fence I was jumping on.

This next one is a video of my climb yesterday.

Here is a nice wall to practice wall passes. Unfortunately the camera drooped and you see little of me. I kinda like the angle though.

This little area was great for creek jumping, a fun game I’ve been playing since I knew what a creek was. That second jump hurt my shin quite a bit.

And finally, I recreated my three tree climb from Sunday. Enjoy.

TS