Opening Program: March 14, 2026, 12:30pm
Click here to learn more about and register for the opening Pep Rally for the Trees.

Artist and programmer Amanda Lovelee presents Homecoming at MASS MoCA, an immersive environmental art project designed to remember a deeper connection between humans and nature while playfully addressing the urgency of climate change that is causing plants to migrate. The project envisions MASS MoCA as a symbolic micro field station for two trees-in-residence participating in assisted plant migration. Central to this installation are custom-designed bleachers to watch two trees grow and witness the time scale shifts of more-than-human beings. Joyful programming, pep rallies, and performances are employed to cheer on these trees while they participate in MASS MoCA’s assisted migration residency.

About Assisted Plant Migration:
Assisted plant migration is the intentional movement of plants (typically native and long living, like trees) from a higher grow zone (warmer climate) to a lower grow zone (cooler climate) to help the cooler climate forests adapt to warming climates. As temperatures in the northeastern US feel more like the southern states in the coming years, northeastern forests should have some trees that are more comfortable with those conditions. This practice is currently being researched and implemented across the country to support climate-smart forestry. Trees don’t operate in isolation; Through many different means, southern-origin trees will be in new-community with northern-origin trees. For example, trees are able to communicate with each other by the exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOCs, tree hormones) through the air, and carbohydrate/protein sharing between roots.

MASS MoCA brings a red oak from grow zone 8 to participate in a residency with a red oak from our region (grow zone 6). They are placed in proximity to each other, in city planters, to share VOCs and communicate. The project is a symbol for plant resilience and an example of human intervention in, and care for more-than human beings.

Homecoming is in collaboration with plant scientist, artist, and educator Jessica Gersony and members of the PLACE (PLant physiology, Art and Community Engagement) Lab at Smith College.