The snow and bright sky were doing something interesting to the Westport tree sculpture yesterday. It became an even more fascinating tree after it was killed then turned into a sculpture in 1998. Artist Alberto Chavez carved out a tale from the old oak which features a woman, an eagle, a man, a bear, a snake and some otters. I can pick out the woman and eagle in this shot but I'm not 100 percent on the bear.
I think of this artwork as a living thing that makes my life more interesting than it is.
Here's a little history from an earlier post.
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It was the oldest oak in Dane County before they killed it to put up a parking lot or in this case an apartment complex
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It is just lovely. Very cool piece of art.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see him close.
This tree have a interesting story!
Nice weekend, Jeanna!
You know I can't seem to get a good shot of it. I'll have to look at the story of the man the snake the bear the woman the eagle and the otters.
DeleteI just read your other post and how sad that workers destroyed the roots.
ReplyDeletej'aime beaucoup cette photo. The story of the end of this tree is really sad
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kwarkito, high praise from the master. It is sad and frustrating but more people will notice it now, which is something.
DeleteThe easy way out was anything but in this case, Pilch, but thankfully it had as happy an ending as you could have after destroying something so old.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame the the poor tree was killed. I'm glad it lives on as a thing of beauty in its afterlife. Beautiful textures.
ReplyDeleteIt may not be the happiest of endings but as endings go it's not a bad one, Dragonstar.
DeleteBeautiful monochrome.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robert, someone things look brighter in black and white these days.
DeleteIt really is a beautiful and fascinating sculpture ... is there a a plaque to memorialize (shame?) what happened to the original tree though?
ReplyDeleteThere's no information on it except what I found in that old post, at least I couldn't find any. There is, however, a rabid group of historians that my cousin introduced me to I may run it by. I don't think I'd like to see a plaque nailed to it but it would be nice to have something nearby. The owner of that complex is a douche though. This is the original tree, the roots died but it got sculpted into this work of art.
DeleteVery interesting and creative. Perfect in B&W!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat, not nearly as interesting as your journey through the petroglyphs.
DeleteIt's so sad that they couldn't make the tree part of the parking lot. But, at least, it still gives a view.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty close to the parking lot and better off where it is I think, Betty. Just minding its own business telling the tale of man's ability to disturb nature on ground and in the air and water.
DeleteThis is a brilliant take!
ReplyDeleteThis tree deserves a better photograph but I'll keep trying and thanks Magiceye.
Deletethat´s a gret idea to make a sculpture of an old tree :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt was more of a lawsuit that got satisfied by engaging this artist, but yeah, especially the commentary on man's interference with nature.
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