Canebrakes are ecosystems dominated by large stands of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), a once-abundant native North American bamboo species. Formerly the habitat of now-extinct passenger pigeons and Carolina parakeets, its demise is also detrimental for currently threatened species like Swainson’s warbler.

As ecosystem participants, the artists built a traditional Celtic boat from willow and cowhide, known as a coracle, to navigate the Southern Illinois landscape. Named Possibility, this living portal built using non-extractive methods invites us to reenvision ourselves in nature. According to Indigenous historical records, kindred boats called bull boats coursed the Ohio and Mississippi rivers long before Europeans arrived. Visitors may contemplate the canebrake in the coracle, read about the process, study instructions for planting a canebrake, and learn more about participatory ecology.