The sculpture is on the north side of the park on a semicircular concrete slab protruding into the arboretum from the walking path that circumnavigates the park. The artist, Francis Fox chose this site because of its potential for a quiet and intimate experience with the sculpture, the arboretum, and the cemetery.
CONCEPT
The bronze sculpture will also function as a circular bench. Most of the artists' research for this project, over the past two years, was focused on tree seeds. Through this investigation and his growing familiarity with the site, Francis was inspired to choose an idea that could elicit a general sense of growth and contemplation from the viewer. The vertical form of the bench relates to trees in both their mature and infant stages of life. The domed bottom of the sculpture suggests balance. These formal choices combined with the seating function, and the site location, all contribute to create a potential non-verbal awareness of trees and a general experience of life cycles.
MATERIALS
The sculpture is completely cast in bronze with a two inch solid stainless steel pole embedded in concrete.