began to view America as home , and she slowly started to take root .
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Unlike Scotland , Illinois did not offer Hargrove lush landscapes with rich histories . In an effort to become rooted in America , she began to research her new home . As a country , America ’ s history only goes back a few hundred years , but if we have learned anything from Alfredo Jaar , there is more to America than the United States . When Hargrove moved to Central Florida to teach at Rollins College , she explored and studied her new surroundings . It is a personal goal of hers to discover new places every year , both in America and Scotland . The world offers so much history ; we just have to be willing to take the time to seek it out and learn from it .
One of Hargrove ’ s favorite local landmarks to visit was the three-thousand-year-old cypress tree fondly known as “ The Senator ,” which burned down due to arson in 2012 . The tree had acted as a landmark long before central Florida became an urban city ; Native Americans had used it as a marker for meetings and trails . Hargrove visited the tree shortly before its destruction and described how she
Facade 4 , acrylic on panel
felt when she found out that the oldest bald cypress tree in the world had been destroyed : “ A human life consists of a fraction of the time that the world has been around .” Placing herself as a speck on The Senator ’ s timeline was a humbling experience for her .
Nature is a recurring theme in Hargrove ’ s work , whether the piece is a visual representation of nature , or the lack thereof . Her objective is to provoke conversations about the environment and how it is changing . “ What amazing places are right there on your doorstep ?” Hargrove asks . It is so easy to get caught
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