Tiffany Shlain is a master at seeing the big picture and is known for delivering complex ideas in exciting new ways. Honored by Newsweek as one of their “Women Shaping the 21st Century,” Tiffany is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and author of the national bestselling book 24/6: Giving up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection, which won the Marshall McLuhan Outstanding Book Award. Her work has received over 80 awards and distinctions, including selection for the Albert Einstein Foundation’s 100 Visionaries continuing Einstein’s legacy. The US State Department has selected Tiffany and her films to represent North America at embassies around the world.
Tiffany’s art installation, Human Nature, presented by the National Women’s History Museum and Women Connect4Good, made its debut in November 2022, and featured “Dendrofemonology” a historical tree ring, which was used to illustrate a timeline of the story of women and power in society. The tree ring—a 55-by-61-inch slice of deodar cedar—highlights key moments in women’s history from 50,000 BCE (Goddesses are worshiped) to 2022 (overturning of Roe V. Wade).
“I have always been fascinated by the tree ring timelines at the entrance of Muir Woods or any National Park. They illuminate how the trees are a witness to human history. However, I also felt like those timelines tell a colonialist and patriarchal story,” Tiffany said. “Like I was being mansplained history. The tree rings in Human Nature imagine what alternate histories could be told…”
Now, one year and one day after Human Nature’s successful debut, Tiffany plans to bring Dendrofemonology – The Feminist History Tree Ring to the National Mall in Washington, DC. for an art activation, voter registration, and education drive. Presented by The National Women’s History Museum, Women Connect4Good, and Let it Ripple – with participating organizations: Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Feminist Majority Foundation, She The People, Vital Voices, VoteProChoice, and more – the event is geared to inspire voters, particularly young voters, with guides and materials for any region. This activation launches right before the 2023 election, and exactly one year before the 2024 election. Scheduled to take place November 1-4, the event will feature a series of live and livestreamed events on the National Mall with presenting and participating organizations.
“There are 93,000 races on the ballot this year that could affect women’s rights, trans rights, and reproductive freedom,” Tiffany wrote. “Join us as we inspire as many people as possible to #ReclaimOurHistory and #VoteOurFuture!”
Building off the model of 50/50 Day (watch 3 min video) – an activation that engaged millions – this year’s event brings powerful organizations together who will each engage their networks, be part of the speaker lineup in the dramatic setting of the Washington Monument, and disseminate resources. Tiffany plans to, “livestream and amplify these speakers through all of our, and our partners’, channels.”
To learn more go to https://www.letitripple.org/dc.