lucy hodgson's work is heavily influenced by nature. for "standing remains: remains standing" (1992), a site-specific work in west kingston, rhode island at the south county center for the arts, hodgson utilized a thirteen-foot-high maple tree trunk that was damaged by a hurricane. the piece was abstract, and she worked organically while carving into it with only hand tools, following the tree's natural shape, as opposed to having a fixed form in her mind. the trunk was still rooted and alive, which provided extra challenges in the work, but was characteristic of her interest in organic forms and natural forces. she acknowledged that the trunk was impermanent, and certainly subject to change through the passage of time, but rejected the idea that art must be permanent. hodgson has remarked that she is interested in trees "for their very anthropomorphic qualities."