Tree Hunter: Portrait of an American Artist

TYPE: Documentary
GENRE: Documentary
STATUS: Post-Production

LOGLINE

Self-taught artist and naturalist, Dennis Downes, creates art that reveals our deep connections to the land and travels the country to protect the last ancient trail marker trees shaped by Native Americans.

SYNOPSIS

“I am simply fascinated with what came before us and the beautiful and hostile surroundings in which people lived and survived.”

Sporting a long white mustache, black leather vest and cowboy boots, Dennis Downes appears to have stepped out of the 19th century. He is a self-taught artist who grew up in a working class family in Glenbrook, Illinois and relentlessly pursued his passions to become an accalimed artist and earn a wide following and respect as 'the trail tree expert'.  Dennis has spent over thirty years crossing the country to document and inspire communities to protect the last Native American Trail Marker Trees.These trees were expertly shaped by indigenous people as navigational guides through the dense North American forests. Downes is the author of Native American Trail Marker Trees, Marking Paths through the Wilderness and the founder of the Great Lakes Trail Tree Society.

Downes' stunning paintings and sculptures reconnect us to nature and our forgotten history. He has created public installions of bronze and life-size trail tree sculptures and he has designed council circles formed with sapling trail trees planted by local communities in Illinois and Michigan. His process of creating art is as important as the finished work. Downes makes exquiste frames inlaid with natural materials and prepares his own paints and paper from native plants. Driven to understand how people once lived, he is an expert archer who makes his own fine arrows, bows and spears and he has built a beautifully crafted cabin by hand on a remote island in Canada.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

We combine a rich archive of newly filmed material and interviews, with stunning images and video that Dennis has recorded himself over the years.This film explores the mystery of the trails trees and tells the story of a passionate complex artist who has overcome many challenges for the sake of authenticity. For the last five years, Dennis has been fighting cancer and in spite of ongoing treatments, he determinely continues his work.

This documentary is intended for wide release through film festivals, broadcast television, theatrical, museum and community screenings. We are currently editing the film and raising funds to complete post productions which is very costly. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductionable through the sponsorship of the Gotham Film and Media Institute.

If you prefer to send a check please contact Lesley Topping for the Gotham donation form that needs to filled out. Thank you for your support and interest.

KEY CREW

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