burn map: 255 fires is a protective shelter inspired by my experiences as a wildland firefighter and lessons drawn from my ancestors. The shelter consists of images of charred bark, smoldered onto fabric. Using a low-intensity laser, I forge a personal map of 255 controlled burns. The structure protects from external elements, whether due to natural disasters, climate change, or personal narratives.

The lean-to shelter is handcrafted from burnt cotton interwoven with a mylar seedling-protection tarp, supported by a charred cedar base. The installation features a looping video and soundscape that examines the flora and fauna of the ecological communities of my home in Western Montana.

In burn map: 255 fires, I reflect on resilience in ecosystems and in ourselves. This mirrors our own collective struggles to shield against various elements, including generational trauma, which can be like a fire that is both destructive and regenerative. The more we suppress our grief, the more it insists on revealing itself. Fire is integral to our ecosystems, and we are woven into its fabric of existence.