Birches Growing in Rotting Books, Detroit

Artist Andrew Moore (American, born 1957)

Date2008

MediumChromogenic print

DimensionsImage: 30 3/8 x 47 inches (77.17 x 119.38 cm)
Sheet: 45 5/8 inches x 5 feet (115.9 x 152.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of the artist

Object number2010.65

Signedon label, in pencil on back with "2010"

Inscribedon back in pen: "Birches Growing in Rotting Books, Detroit / 2009 / Ed. 1/5"

On View

Not on view

Collections

Photography

Terms

DescriptionImage of sapling trees growing up from floor of abandoned school, which is strewn with moldering books.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

This work shows an abandoned school library in the city of Detroit, whose books were left to rot. Though the image conveys the grim toll that economic decline has taken on the city’s civic infrastructure, Moore’s photograph also suggests that such conditions are cyclical. Tree saplings have begun to grow from the books, whose pages originally derived from wood pulp.

Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.