Oaks & Amity
A White Wood
Oaks & Amity is a tree planting project by Caroline Wendling that will
establish a lasting oak wood commemorating peace and amity among
European nations. 49 oaks, raised from acorns from Joseph Beuys'
7000 mother oaks in Kassel/ Germany were planted alongside 700
silver birch and other native white plants to form a White Wood for
generations to come.
German acorns were planted in Scottish soil alongside buried French
stone, uniting the three countries once at war. Caroline Wendling who
initiated this project with Deveron Arts, is a French artist, who comes
from Lorraine, the contested former region of Germany, which became
French after WWI.
Why Huntly? Huntly has a long standing history with the military through its affiliation
with the Gordon Highlander’s regiment who fought in both World Wars. Many people
from Huntly went out in peace keeping missions. 188 people from Huntly lost their lives
in World War I; 100 years before this project was conceived.
Why White? White is the colour symbolising Peace and Pacifism. Conscientious
objectors were given a white feather, symbolising cowardice during the WWI recruitment
times. In Huntly we know of five conscientious objectors who went to trial to proof their
standing.
Who was Joseph Beuys? Beuys is one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century
who started his life as a Luftwaffe pilot who was later shot down by the ‘enemy’ in the
Crimean. He was nurtured and healed by Tartar nomads in Russia which made him
become one of the most influential pacifists of all time. Principles of humanism, ecology
and pacifism shaped Beuys, whose principle was ‘Everyone is an Artist’. Beuys visited
Scotland often, a country whose Celtic routed mythology and landscape he loved.
Why Oaks? 7000 Oaks, a mass planting action by Joseph Beuys in Kassel/Germany is
the starting point of the White Wood project. Deveron Arts has planted acorns from the
Beuys' mother oaks in Huntly. 7 x 7 = 49 of those form the basis of this 1000 year wood.
What has this got to do with peace? To commemorate this lesser known history, and
the relative peace between Europe's nations, Caroline will be planting a White Wood in
the Bin Forest, just outside Huntly. This will symbolically unite three countries; oak trees
that hail from Germany will be planted on British soil, surrounded by imported French
stone in the creation of a White Wood.
What is the role of the Stones? To commemorate this lesser known history, and the
relative peace between Europe's nations, French artist Caroline Wendling has brought
49 white Roche dure Coquillée stones from the Somme battlefield areas in France. They
are buried next to the oaks and over the years to come will be pushed up by the roots,
coming up from their burial grounds. This will symbolically unite three countries; oak
trees from Germany, planted on British soil, surrounded by French stone in the creation
of a White Wood. Also buried will be 49 stones taken by Huntly school pupils who visited
Lochnagar crater in the Somme.