susan stair
Roots on FirePublic Art
 
 
I enjoy making public art with stories of nature and trees. 
Recently biologists have found that trees have the power to clean
the soil, water and air with networks covering the earth.
 
The first fours images are from the Birdwatching in the Boreal Forest, 2025,
made for the Audubon Mural Project installed at 565 West 170th St., New York City, including birds
facing extinction.
 
The Boreals are critical for human survival containing 1/3 of the fresh water
on the planet with 600 billion tress, 1/4 of the forest on Earth in 1.5 billion acres.
It's a Guerilla Mosaic that can relocated, is weatherproof, and uses smalti
and gold mosaics.
 
Stair "explores the lessons that trees teach us"... and "interprets complex scientific discoveries." Marianne Wardle, Curator
During her Art Residency Stair completed the Forest, "Art Sung Wooster" and the "Spring Tiles," for the College of Wooster.
"Roots on Fire", 8 feet by 25 feet, shows the relationship between 3 species of trees and 11 races living together in East Harlem.
17 full size trees cast from live tree bark that you can touch are included in "Radically Rooted."
"Urban Wilding" is the last piece in the entrance with the solution to our climate problems, the restoration of nature in cities, towns and the countryside.
"Between Humans and Trees, Rhizomatic Thinking", was the talk delivered at the Ebert Art Center in October.
Stair worked on the Forest, "Spring Sung Wooster", for three weeks in May.
Birdwatching in the Boreal Waterways including the Harlequin Duck, The Whooping Crane, the Barrow's Goldeneye
Birdwatching in the ScrubShrub, the Northern Shrike, Harris' Sparrow, the Orange Crowned Warbler, and the Alder Flycatcher
Birdwatching in the Boreal Wetlands includes theYellow Rail, the Greater Yellowlegs,and LeConte's Sparrow
Birdwatching in the Boreal Forest. including the White Winged Crossbill, the Northern Hawk Owl, the Boreal Chickadee, and the Canada Jay
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panorama, 2023, Wood, Plastic, Paint, Clay and Mixed Media, (8'x 16'x 3'). installed in Morningside Park at 116th Street and Morningside Avenue. Setting the Stage for Climate Change uses recycled wood, melted plastic and detritus, and to address the climate crisis.
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, 2023, (8'x 16'x 3'). The installation has 5 panels presenting the climate crisis and solutions currently in place.
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, 2023, (8'x 6'x 2"). Panel one shows todays danger signs of climate disfunction.
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 2, Forests on Land, (8'x 3'x 2"). 1/2 of the oxygen we breathe comes from forests and plants on land.
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 3, Forests in the ocean. (8'x 3'x 2"). The other 1/2 of the oxygen we breathe is from the kelp forests and algae in oceans.
Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 4, Nature's Networks. (8'x 3'x 2"). Crustaceans in oceans near forests have stronger shells because tree roots break rocks and dissolve their minerals, respiring them into the air.
This brochure describes Ascending the Mountain, a 40 long 3 part mural that was installed in Marcus Garvey Park. The park was initially a solid rock mountain then seeds and roots grew and it became a forest.
Ascending the Mountain, Part 1, Roots in Rock. 2021, Ceramic and Mosaics, (40"x 11'x 3"). Roots can still be seen growing into the rock creating soil for the trees.
Ascending the Mountain, Part 2, Tree Powerhouse, 2021, Clay and Mosaic, (40"x 16'x 2"). This cross section shows the trees internal work making sugars during photosynthesis and releasing oxygen.
Detail of Ascending the Mountain, Tree Powerhouse. Trees collect air, minerals, water and light to produce sugar.
Ascending the Mountain, Part 3, Canopy Celebration, 2021, Clay, Mosaic, and Mirrors, (40"x 17"x 2") At the top of the mountain viewers can look into the tree canopy, or cover made by trees and branches.
Canopy Celebration is installed at FCNL in Washington DC , 245 2nd Street,NE.
Roots on Fire, Art Park, 2019, Clay Bark Prints and Mosaic, (8'x 25'x 4") Roots on Fire tells the story of the diverse inhabitants of East Harlem, with 12 flags representing residents and 3 park trees intertwined.
Tree Reflections, Conference House Park, Staten Island, 2016, Mosaic and Clay Prints, (18'x 7'x 3"). Osage orange trees from both Marcus Garvey Park and Conference House Park were cast.
Cross Pollination, 2013, Stone Quarry Art Park, Mosaic and stone, (9'x 4'x 2"). This was my first mosaic celebrating a tree that survived a lightning strike.
Alchemy, 2014, Mosaic tree installation, (7'x 4'x 2"). This is the 2nd mosaic in a tree that survived a lightning strike.
Returning to the River, 2018, Mosaic, Clay, and Stone, (8x 17x 6). This mosaic mural at 70 West 139th St. shows the river that was there in 1609. Stair included 3 trees cast on site and Harlems fame, shown as a celluloid building with a river of blues.
By the Waters, 2009,, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY., Mosaic, Clay, Steel and Stone, (9'x 18'x 4'). Located in the Rosa Parks School, the words, Like a tree planted by the river, we shall not be moved, were written in the bench where students sit next to Rosa Parks.
The Pillars of Excellence, 2009, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY. Mosaic, ( 11'x 5' circumference x 2) These were designed and produced with the students.
Detail, The Pillars of Excellence, The Slave Trade Routes from Africa, 2009, Mosaics, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY.
Stair held Trashion Shows in public parks and venues to encourage people to limit their plastic use.
The Trashion Fashion Show, 2023, at the Dwyer Cultural Center, Harlem, New York City.
2025 Trashion Show at the Marcus Garvey Park Amphitheatre, Harlem, New York City.
2025 Trashion Show at the Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, Harlem, New York City.
The Trashion Show started with a wave as Susan Stair organized the models. Trashion Fashion 2024 at Morningside Park, New York City.
Workshop at the Pelham Fritz Center Marcus Garvey Park, 2025.
2025 Trashion Show at the Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, Harlem, New York City.
Stair "explores the lessons that trees teach us"... and "interprets complex scientific discoveries." Marianne Wardle, Curator, During her Art Residency Stair completed the Forest, "Art Sung Wooster" and the "Spring Tiles," for the College of Wooster., "Roots on Fire", 8 feet by 25 feet, shows the relationship between 3 species of trees and 11 races living together in East Harlem., 17 full size trees cast from live tree bark that you can touch are included in "Radically Rooted." , "Urban Wilding" is the last piece in the entrance with the solution to our climate problems, the restoration of nature in cities, towns and the countryside., "Between Humans and Trees, Rhizomatic Thinking", was the talk delivered at the Ebert Art Center in October., Stair worked on the Forest, "Spring Sung Wooster", for three weeks in May., Birdwatching in the Boreal Waterways including the Harlequin Duck, The Whooping Crane, the Barrow's Goldeneye, Birdwatching in the ScrubShrub, the Northern Shrike, Harris' Sparrow, the Orange Crowned Warbler, and the Alder Flycatcher, Birdwatching in the Boreal Wetlands includes theYellow Rail, the Greater Yellowlegs,and LeConte's Sparrow, Birdwatching in the Boreal Forest. including the White Winged Crossbill, the Northern Hawk Owl, the Boreal Chickadee, and the Canada Jay, Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panorama, 2023, Wood, Plastic, Paint, Clay and Mixed Media, (8'x 16'x 3'). installed in Morningside Park at 116th Street and Morningside Avenue. Setting the Stage for Climate Change uses recycled wood, melted plastic and detritus, and to address the climate crisis., Setting the Stage for Climate Change, 2023, (8'x 16'x 3'). The installation has 5 panels presenting the climate crisis and solutions currently in place. , Setting the Stage for Climate Change, 2023, (8'x 6'x 2"). Panel one shows todays danger signs of climate disfunction., Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 2, Forests on Land, (8'x 3'x 2"). 1/2 of the oxygen we breathe comes from forests and plants on land., Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 3, Forests in the ocean. (8'x 3'x 2"). The other 1/2 of the oxygen we breathe is from the kelp forests and algae in oceans., Setting the Stage for Climate Change, Panel 4, Nature's Networks. (8'x 3'x 2"). Crustaceans in oceans near forests have stronger shells because tree roots break rocks and dissolve their minerals, respiring them into the air., This brochure describes Ascending the Mountain, a 40 long 3 part mural that was installed in Marcus Garvey Park. The park was initially a solid rock mountain then seeds and roots grew and it became a forest., Ascending the Mountain, Part 1, Roots in Rock. 2021, Ceramic and Mosaics, (40"x 11'x 3"). Roots can still be seen growing into the rock creating soil for the trees., Ascending the Mountain, Part 2, Tree Powerhouse, 2021, Clay and Mosaic, (40"x 16'x 2"). This cross section shows the trees internal work making sugars during photosynthesis and releasing oxygen., Detail of Ascending the Mountain, Tree Powerhouse. Trees collect air, minerals, water and light to produce sugar., Ascending the Mountain, Part 3, Canopy Celebration, 2021, Clay, Mosaic, and Mirrors, (40"x 17"x 2") At the top of the mountain viewers can look into the tree canopy, or cover made by trees and branches., Canopy Celebration is installed at FCNL in Washington DC , 245 2nd Street,NE. , Roots on Fire, Art Park, 2019, Clay Bark Prints and Mosaic, (8'x 25'x 4") Roots on Fire tells the story of the diverse inhabitants of East Harlem, with 12 flags representing residents and 3 park trees intertwined., Tree Reflections, Conference House Park, Staten Island, 2016, Mosaic and Clay Prints, (18'x 7'x 3"). Osage orange trees from both Marcus Garvey Park and Conference House Park were cast. , Cross Pollination, 2013, Stone Quarry Art Park, Mosaic and stone, (9'x 4'x 2"). This was my first mosaic celebrating a tree that survived a lightning strike., Alchemy, 2014, Mosaic tree installation, (7'x 4'x 2"). This is the 2nd mosaic in a tree that survived a lightning strike., Returning to the River, 2018, Mosaic, Clay, and Stone, (8x 17x 6). This mosaic mural at 70 West 139th St. shows the river that was there in 1609. Stair included 3 trees cast on site and Harlems fame, shown as a celluloid building with a river of blues., By the Waters, 2009,, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY., Mosaic, Clay, Steel and Stone, (9'x 18'x 4'). Located in the Rosa Parks School, the words, Like a tree planted by the river, we shall not be moved, were written in the bench where students sit next to Rosa Parks., The Pillars of Excellence, 2009, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY. Mosaic, ( 11'x 5' circumference x 2) These were designed and produced with the students., Detail, The Pillars of Excellence, The Slave Trade Routes from Africa, 2009, Mosaics, The Rosa Parks School, Bronx, NY., Stair held Trashion Shows in public parks and venues to encourage people to limit their plastic use. , The Trashion Fashion Show, 2023, at the Dwyer Cultural Center, Harlem, New York City., 2025 Trashion Show at the Marcus Garvey Park Amphitheatre, Harlem, New York City., 2025 Trashion Show at the Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, Harlem, New York City., The Trashion Show started with a wave as Susan Stair organized the models. Trashion Fashion 2024 at Morningside Park, New York City., Workshop at the Pelham Fritz Center Marcus Garvey Park, 2025., 2025 Trashion Show at the Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, Harlem, New York City..