Tiffany Shlain, a multidisciplinary artist and founder of the Webby Awards, has opened a new exhibition titled "Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology" at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in San Francisco. The show, which debuted in October 2024 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles as part of a Getty Museum initiative, uses massive tree trunk slices—some weighing 10,000 pounds—to explore Jewish history, feminism, and existential questions. Shlain, known for her work blending feminism, technology, and Judaism, also co-created a video on the teenage brain with Goldie Hawn and recently screened her 2005 documentary short "The Tribe."
The exhibition matters because it represents a growing trend in contemporary art that merges ancient ecological wisdom with cutting-edge technology, while also addressing pressing cultural and historical themes. By using tree rings as a medium to trace 5,000 years of Jewish history and feminist milestones, Shlain offers a tangible, thought-provoking way to engage with heritage and environmental consciousness. The show also highlights the role of collaborative, interdisciplinary art in sparking dialogue about identity, technology, and nature, especially relevant as Shlain advocates for tech-free rituals like Shabbat in an increasingly digital world.