The Meridian Tree
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The Meridian Tree (nicknamed Meridian), 2025
by Ash Smith and Chloe Brackens
Cardboard, Glue, Newspaper, Magazines, Clay, Styrofoam, Wood, Nails, Metal Grommets and Flush Mount Brackets
Provisions Library offers a curated collection of over 6,000 books and publications that aid artists, researchers, and students in discovering new relationships between art and society. The “Meridians: are a spectrum of 33 research arenas designed to activate connection and integration for creative social change.
The Meridian Tree was designed to promote audience engagement at events and installations by offering thematic prompts. Visitors are invited to respond to the prompts, which will ultimately be attached to the tree.
Production Images
About the Artists
Ash Smith graduated from George Mason University in 2022 with a degree in Art and Visual Technology with a concentration in Drawing. Their relationship with Mason continues as they volunteer with Provisions Library and work in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. They nurture their relationship with art within their community through projects and education.
Chloe Brackens graduated in 2025 from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University with a double minor in Spanish and Arts Management. Through her studies, she saw the impact of the arts in peacebuilding and advocacy, and pursued an internship with Mason Exhibitions and volunteered at Provisions Library.
Artist Statements
Ash Smith
From start to finish, The Meridian Tree was an experimental process. Each week brought new challenges for Chloe and me. How do we make the branches stable? How many layers of paper mache are necessary? How do you construct the natural texture of tree bark on a smooth tube? We were a small team with a big project, and it forced us to expand our timeline beyond what either of us thought would be necessary. But the time also allowed us to slow down and connect without technological boundaries.
It was important that the medium we were using was very physical and hands-on. Although I have an arts background, paper mache and sculpture were not familiar mediums, so it was a fun challenge to work with. Each layer had to take time to dry, leaving us time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t, and try something new. Working with Chloe was also a surprisingly positive addition. We were strangers put together to work on a project neither of us was an expert in, but over those several months, we learned about the practice and each other.
To me, Provisions Library is about community connection and the collection of physical media in a time when there is too much information and too many people within reach with technology. Sometimes it is necessary to take a moment to stop, reflect, and connect on a deeper level. We hope The Meridian Tree will allow you to make this connection with the Provisions Library and each other.
Chloe Brackens
The idea for this project emerged from participating in the creation of art encasements for the Offerings to the Potomac exhibition alongside Mason Exhibitions staff and creatives. Inspired by participatory art practices, Ash and I recognized an opportunity to repurpose leftover materials into a project that could engage a broader student population across disciplines while activating the energy of Provisions Library.
This project became an exploration of the creative process itself. As neither of us had significant experience with the materials or methods, we were challenged to experiment, adapt, and consider new possibilities. Although the timeline extended beyond our initial expectations, this allowed our techniques and vision to evolve and become more refined. The result is an organic, modular, tree-like structure that can be reconfigured and activated in a variety of contexts.
The sculpture would not be as effective or expressive without the collaboration between Ash and me. The tree serves as a metaphor for connection and personal growth, reflecting the ways we learn through relationships and strengthen the connectivity and impact of community.