The Kindness May Tree is a public art installation which was on display for the month of May, in Thomastown, Kilkenny, created by Artist/Activist Amelia Caulfield.
“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try” – JFK
I have always loved public art for its visibility and accessibility to everyone. It has the potential to confuse, question, and engage art connoisseurs and passersby alike. Art can open up a conversation, encourage deeper thinking, reveal reality, alter perceptions, or inspire dreaming. I am inspired by the work of artists who draw attention to global justice issues through their work, encouraging communities and individuals to consider life or a subject through a new lens.
Most of all, I love that art allows us to relate and connect to each other through shared experiences. Seeing a visual representation of a thought, feeling or experience you’ve had can provide comfort, connection or a feeling of being seen and heard.
When I heard some feedback about the May Tree in the form of “…it’s so uplifting and inspiring, and especially needed at the moment…”, I knew viewers were relating and connecting to the message of the project, which is all I ever hoped for.
I created a version of a traditional Irish May Tree originally in response to an online action as part of the ‘Creativity and Change’ course at CIT, Cork, which I have just completed. The tree had a makeover for Mental Health Awareness week which this year had the theme of ‘Kindness’, in which it was turned into a ‘Kindness Tree’.
When creating the May Tree initially, lockdown was still a scary new prospect and for me personally anxiety was high. I have had my own mental health struggles with anxiety and panic, as have many of my friends and family. 2020 so far has been a bigger challenge than any of us were expecting, especially in terms of our mental health, which has put pressure on us individually and collectively. I’m extremely passionate about normalising mental health struggles, reducing stigma around them and encouraging an active approach towards minding our mental health. In the past I have found comfort in educating myself, CBT, counselling, mindfulness, and finding encouraging resources which normalise how I have felt. My personal goal is to create work that offers that same comfort.
While ideating my next creative project, I thought about what I would like to see, what would make me feel supported and comforted, and what would help the community maintain connections during a time of isolation. I wanted the project to be uplifting and hopeful.
During difficult times, art connects us. Many of us have found solace in The Arts amidst the chaos of the world around us, be it through music, movies, or books. Using your creativity also does wonders for your mental health. It can be a form of meditation as you get into a flow state and release yourself from an overthinking, catastrophizing mind. My hopes for this project were that it would help me conceptualise some of my own worries and fears, and process them more constructively. I hoped viewers would take the same hope and comfort from the tree as I got from creating it.
Inspired by the celtic tradition which originated in Ireland’s south-east of decorating a whitethorn bush (or ‘skeagh’) for the month of May to celebrate the start of summer, I wanted to create my own May Tree using a young silver birch tree, located on The Quay in Thomastown, Kilkenny.
To decorate the tree I wrote quotes, poems, messages and prompts on colourful cards and displayed them on the birch like delicate, durable ornaments on a Christmas tree. When I learned the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 was Kindness, I wanted to incorporate that into the project also. I made a series of hand carved lino prints on “kindness’, and wrote more messages and prompts on the back of each one.
The experience of viewing the tree was almost like entering an aladdin’s cave. As you stooped under the outside branches and stepped in beside the trunk, you were surrounded by over 40 colourful, floating messages, twirling and moving in the wind, each on a rich green backdrop of new leaf growth.
The May Tree got a great reaction from the community of Thomastown and online. The tree stands in a grassy area which was being maintained for biodiversity, however a ring of grass around the tree was worn down flat for the whole month, which is telling of many ambling visitors. Children in particular took the invitation to engage with the tree and add their own decorations, some made out of recyclable materials such as milk cartons.
Connection, to ourselves and to others, has become more important than ever as we navigate challenging times. Being open and honest about your struggles can feel extremely vulnerable and uncomfortable, but it is a giant leap towards making sincere connections, which in turn, can make life a whole lot easier. I hope to continue doing this through a socially engaged art practice and through advocating for causes I believe in.
“You never know what light you might spark in others, just through your kindness and your example” Jennifer Rockwood
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
