Motor House is thrilled to announce the opening of our first immersive art installation since the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered our doors. Silent Spring, an environmental themed installation by Stephanie Garon with sound by Clint Sleeper, explores humanity’s connection to the environment through a journey that is both an expedition and a contemplation. This installation offers guests a surreal oasis from their walls, the winter, and the city.

Silent Spring will be exhibited from December 3, 2020 – January 6, 2021 with timed tickets available at https://silentspringmotorhouse.eventbrite.com. Artist tours will be presented on December 12 and December 19 at 3pm.

Rows of prehistoric-sized Princess Tree leaves (Paulownia tomentosa) frame an ethereal curtain walkway. These leaves, classified as an invasive species of weeds, are typically found in soils hurt by construction or fire and frequently located in pavement cracks or by powerlines at the road’s edge. They grow up to 15 feet/year until smothering the canopy and plants beneath it. All leaves were sourced from the Baltimore region.

In Japan, a Princess Tree is planted when a girl is born. When she is eligible for marriage, the tree is cut down and carved for her dowry. Women and nature, around the world, are interconnected and tied to issues of claim, commodity, and climate change.

About Motor House

About Stephanie Garon

Stephanie Garon received dual science degrees from Cornell University, then attended Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Her environmental art has been exhibited internationally in London, Colombia, and South Korea, as well as across the United States. Upcoming exhibits include the 2021 Foggy Bottom Biennial, Honfleur Gallery, Touchstone Gallery, and Brentwoods Arts Center. Her writing, a critical aspect of her artistic process, has been published in international literary journals and her chapbook will be published in 2021.