Dendrofemonology: A Feminist Tree Ring with artist Tiffany Shlain

Join artist, writer, and filmmaker Tiffany Schlain as she discusses her latest art piece Dendrofemonology: A Feminist Tree Ring. Dendrofemonology tells a 50,000 year history of humanity through a feminist lens. Shlain says, “I have always been fascinated by the tree ring timelines at the entrance of Muir Woods or any National Park. They illuminate how the trees are a witness to human history. However, I also felt like those timelines tell a colonialist and patriarchal story. The tree rings in Human Nature imagine what alternate histories could be told…starting with a feminist history tree ring."

This event is a discussion of Dendrofemonology; the art piece will not be on display at Mechanics’ Institute.

Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring debuted as part of Tiffany Shlain's Human Nature exhibition in The San Francisco Ferry Building's Shack15 in November 2022. The Human Nature exhibition was presented by the National Women's History Museum and Women Connect4Good. After the installation on the National Mall in Washington DC, Dendrofemonology traveled to New York City, where it is at Nancy Hoffman Gallery in Chelsea as part of a solo exhibition of HUMAN NATURE.

Co-presented by the Women’s National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter.

About the Artist

Tiffany Shlain is an multidisciplinary artist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, national bestselling author, and the founder of the Webby Awards. Working across mediums, Shlain's work explores ideas in feminism, philosophy, technology, neuroscience, and nature. Her work has been shown at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Sundance Film Festival and US embassies globally.

Her films have received over 65 awards, and have multiple premieres at Sundance. Shlain’s national bestselling book, 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection, received the Marshall McLuhan Outstanding Book Award. Her recent film on neuroscience The Teen Brain was just released and is executive produced by Goldie Hawn and the MindUP program. She has been writing a monthly newsletter Breakfast @ Tiffany's for over 27 years.  

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Institute