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

Artist and explorer, Dennis Downes has spent a lifetime inspiring communities to protect the last living trees expertly shaped by indigenous people for centuries across North America. These trees were mostly contorted at right angles to the ground pointing to important destinations, portage routes, and life saving resources. Our film follows Downes as he traverses the country in his beat-up truck to discover the trees and the people who preserved them. 

We weave the legacy of the trail trees with the story of a determined artist who pursued his passions inspite of difficult challenges. He has earned the respect of Native American elders, local communities, historians and environmentalists for furthering the knowledge of the trail trees. His art which includes public installations of bronze trail trees and newly planted council circles have engaged whole communities to reconnect with their local histories. Downes is the author of Native American Trail Trees, Marking Paths through the Wilderness and the founder of The Great Lakes Trail Tree Society. The Society receives hundreds of emails from tree spotting enthusiasts and Downes follows up on the ones he believes might be authentic. 

Sporting a long white handlebar mustache, wearing a black leather vest and cowboy boots, Downes seems to have stepped out of the 19th century. Born in 1951, Dennis grew up on the "poor side” of Northbrook, a suburb outside of Chicago. The forest was his playground and he became fascinated with the distinctively bent Trail Trees that were well documented in his area since the 1800's. As a young man Downes decided to follow up on the work of earlier naturalists. He was further encouraged to study Native American cultures by his aunt in law, a member of the Cherokee Nation. 

Downes worked multiple jobs, often struggling to get by, before becoming a successful artist with a loyal following. His home studio is a rambling 100-year-old house, in constant need of repair, on the Chain O’Lakes in Antioch, Illinois. In the fire pit in his backyard, Downes cooks his own paints and makes his own paper from native plants. Many of his prolific paintings and sculptures have been inspired by his travels and research. Compelled to understand how people once survived, he is an expert archer making his own finely decorated arrows and spears. 

During our filming, Dennis was diagnosed with stage four cancer. In spite of regular harsh chemotherapy treatments, he continued to create new work, discover more trail trees and build a beautifully crafted log cabin on a remote island. In February of 2024, his condition worsened. He spent his last days in his art studio home with his wife, Gail Spreen, where they had a constant stream of friends and family visitors. He continued to plan the final installation of his latest trail tree sculpture in a rewilded field along Lake Michigan in collaboration with the Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. 

Our film is a moving story of a tenacious American artist whose life’s work has brought us a deeper understanding of our forgotten indigenous past and ties to the natural world.

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.

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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