In a forest ecosystem, life and death coexist in a continuous cycle, with organisms at various stages of growth and decay. This process of renewal sustains the forest, showing that life is not linear but a dynamic balance of rest and activity. In autumn, mushrooms emerge, lichens grow, at the same time that sap drains from trees in preparation for winter. The forest is always interconnected with elements encountering and supporting one another at contrasting stages of their life cycles. This hidden vitality and interdependence are central to Cook’s work, inviting reverence for the ordinary work of living.

To create this work, bark was cooked in soda ash to remove sugars and lignins, then hand-pounded with stone. The fibres were pulled into lace, with handmade paper mushrooms embedded in the delicate structure. The process required shared labour, patience, and care, aligning with the traditions of craft. It involved relinquishing control, asking for help, and forming community through collaborative-making.

Cook has described how commercial lightboxes, often glaring and disorienting, can be detrimental to the low-vision and blind community to which she belongs. By experimenting with opacity–covering the lightbox through collective labour and care–this work makes the surrounding environment more accessible and comfortable.

Reflecting on the piece, Cook shares: “This work will be up during a time when the campus can feel cold and bare. I hope this piece offers a moment of rest, reminding you that much happens beneath the surface, and that all ways of being contribute to the communities we live in.”