Every Tree Tells a Story Opening Reception Sets Celebratory Tone

The Landslide 2010: Every Tree Tells a Story exhibition of photography premiered last month to a crowd of more than 250 during a reception at Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art in Newark.

The three-hour-long opening reception had a decidedly celebratory tone with food and wine being provided by local caterer, David Ellis Events, and music by DJ Adrian Desroe and DJ Erick "ICE" Isom. Also in attendance were Every Tree photographers Yong Hee Kim, who photographed the nearby Essex County Branch Brook Park Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees and Amy Bedik, who photographed the historic Tulip Poplar at Tudor Place in Washington, D.C. TCLF co-chair Shaun Duncan and New Jersey-based board member Meredith Bzdak attended as well, along with James Lecky, Branch Brook Park Alliance Executive Director, and Barbara Bell Coleman, Branch Brook Park Alliance co-chair.

The evening included a short program during which, Victor Davson, the Director of Aljira, thanked the artists and sponsors of the reception, noting that Aljira was pleased to be partnering with TCLF and American Photo for the first time. Russell Hart, Executive Editor of American Photo and curator of the exhibition, spoke to the Every Tree project and the diversity of artists that participated in the collection. TCLF President, Charles Birnbaum, closed the short program by thanking the artists and acknowledging the contributions of both American Photo and, of course, our presenting sponsor, The Davey Tree Expert Company, in making the project not only a reality, but a success.

Many thanks to Aljira and all the attendees that made the evening so festive.