Urban Trees 1 Selections

A Bird’s Playground
Alberto Caro and Children from San Diego and Tijuana

Scan any playground in the country and you’re sure to find children climbing on a jungle gym. Artist Alberto Caro gives flying, feathered friends the same opportunity with his tangled interpretation of a tree. Children assisted Caro in painting the many birds nesting in his tree.

AP: $7,000

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An Urban Tree, 2028
Lester Wiese

Medium: Wood, steel, fiberglass
"Social disorder, environmental deterioration and competition for space in the year 2028 have forced the individual to seek sanctuary in a private place; to create a device, assembled from the detritus of his urban habitat; to provide a refuge from the pressures imposing upon him." This was the approach Lester Wiese took when creating his work, "An Urban Tree, 2028."

Wiese lives in Palm Desert, California and currently has presentations in Los Angeles, Copenhagen and Palm Desert.

AP: $7,500

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Artree
John Oleinik

Medium: Steel
John Oleinik’s work, "Artree," is a mannerist interpretation of a tree. The tree’s essential elements are exaggerated in this experimental vision of form and function. Each leaf is coated with a chemical compound developed by the artist for this installation. The coating changes color and intensity in the presence of ultraviolet light from the sun. On overcast days the leaves are nearly transparent. On sunny days the leaves will darken into an array of colors that provide shade and transmit colors to the sidewalk below. The function of the tree’s interdependence with the sun is exaggerated by drawing attention to the interplay of the leave’s reaction to light.

John Oleinik is an architect who has had his own practice in San Diego since 1983. This is his first public art project.

AP: $12,000

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A Tree Frozen in Time
Rodney Bass and James Stone

Medium: Steel and glass
With arms spiraling upward reaching for the future, James Stone and Rod Bass’ piece "A Tree Frozen in Time," combines color forms that play with the sky and light. The hand blown glass serve as focal points, drawing in spectators while inspiring excitement and wonder.

Bass lives in Escondido and has over 15 years experience in the entertainment and educational development industries.

AP: $15,000

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Copperclad Wingy Dingy
Jim Trask

Medium: copper
There’s a sense of relaxation in seeing colorful pinwheels being pushed by a light breeze. Jim Trask’s collection of copper foil pinwheels, which are attached to copper tubing, catch the San Diego Bay breezes and freely spin in many directions.

Trask resides in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

AP: $12,500

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Evolution
Jon Koehler

Medium: Stainless steel
Jon Koehler’s "Evolution" is a fusion of stainless steel sails, reaching to the sky, rotating into the San Diego Harbor breeze, displayed along the Embarcadero. This Urban Tree is an inspiration of Koehler’s heritage of the yachting world and passion for metal craftsmanship. This creation guides the evolution of his future in the art world.

Koehler resides in San Diego and is now creating stainless steel and aluminum pendulum sculptures.

AP: $40,000

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Foresta Illuminata
Robert G. Wertz and Julie Smith

Medium: Holographic, fiber optic lighting
Robert Wertz, creator of "Foresta Illuminata," has produced a body of work that explores contemporary societal issues and spiritual subjects. "Foresta Illuminata" is a response to visual urban blight represented by cellular radio antennae and high voltage line support towers. This concept involves an aesthetic treatment of the antennae and towers to create tree-like elements to emulate a forest environment.

Wertz lives in San Diego and has an extensive exhibition record.

AP: $13,000

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Free to Breathe
Michael Hoffmann

This interpretive sculpture reflects upon the nature of Gaia, a Roman goddess. Gaia philosophy is a broadly inclusive term for related concepts that living organisms on a planet will affect the nature of their environment -- to make it more suitable for life. Hoffman’s sculpture illustrates how trees become art and illustrates that as oxygen producers, they are respirators that keep humans breathing.

AP: $15,000

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Geolution
Tom Brewitz

All of the concepts and completed pieces Tom Brewitz produces are kinetic. His exciting artwork is an example of movement and evolution. Brewitz worked hard to simulate a real tree from the twisted metal branches to his interpretation of leaves, utilizing hanging geometric shapes. Over time, the copper "leaves" will change color due to the sea salted air they are dangling in.

AP: $6,500

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Golden Tree
Ingrid Vigeant

The inspiration for this tree stems from the temples of Thailand, and the artists’ maiden name which translates to "golden tree." This golden tree is encrusted with bits of broken mirror and colored glass, creating a feeling of a magic tree in a fairy tale. Vigeant hopes her tree evokes fantasy to all who sit under it.

AP: $6,000

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Harbor Arbol
David Fobes and Ramon Zarate

Medium: Steel, sheet metal
Approximately 100 leaves of various shapes inspired by the San Diego harbor make up the urban tree, "Harbor Arbol." Each leaf is suspended and mounted to lift and fall with the ocean breezes. Wind generated propellers activate the entire tree with kinetic motion while shadows serve as an important visual aspect. The tree is intended not only as a gathering place to provide shade, but also as a wind indicator and tacking point for sailors within the bay.

Fobes was born in Detroit, Michigan and currently lives in San Diego.

AP: $8,000

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Lizardo
Linda Joanou and Doug Snider

The first thing you need to know about Lizardo, the reptile, is that he’s a chameleon – not a lizard. It is the creation of both Joanou and Doug Schneider. "I’ve always loved lizards and frogs. They are incredible cute, colorful and funny."

Joanau did the sculpting and teamed with Doug Snider, a ceramic artist, to apply the colors to the climbing reptiles.

AP: $5,000

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Lunch
John Weimann

Medium: Aluminum
Keep it simple. That’s just what John Weiman desired as his creation took shape. Taking inspiration from the "tropical" environment San Diego is in, he created a coconut tree.

"I wanted to be sure I had a character in there and I figured, 'What do many people do at the bottom of a tree?' They eat lunch."

But sometimes you have to work for that lunch, as is the case here where a coconut snack awaits the climber.

AP: $10,000

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Mini the Mermaid
Frank Mando

Medium: Steel
Frank Mando’s twelve foot tall "Mini the Mermaid ," fashioned of welded steel sheets, seemingly floats amidst strands of giant kelp. This piece connects coastal myth and culture expressed as a mysterious sea creature, previously seen only in our imaginations.

Frank Mando has lived and worked in San Diego for the past 25 years. He has won numerous awards for outstanding graphics programs from retail to civic projects.

AP: $7,500

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Nesting Bird in Palm
Marian Zeldin

Medium: clay
Have you ever started to observe a bird in a tree, only to see it vanish seconds after you’ve begun to enjoy it? Marian Zeldin’s bird watching friends know that story well. So she set out to create a tree, a palm tree to be exact, with its own permanently placed bird that would never fly off and always be enjoyed. The choice of a tree, a palm, was another influence from friends. "I’m from Northern California, and most of my friends up there do not like palm trees. But I really like them, especially the pattern in the trunk."

AP: $6,000

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Periscopic Tree for Homeland Security
Larry and Debby Kline

San Diego plays a major role in the security of the United States. Debby and Larry Kline’s piece, "Periscopic Tree for Homeland Security," addresses the current political landscape with a sense of humor. Our nation’s leaders have informed the citizenry to remain ever watchful and alert. In light of this new environment and San Diego’s history as a part of the military industrial complex, they have created an urban tree that helps to fulfill this purpose. The Periscopic Tree for Homeland Security is fitted with optics, making it a working periscope. True to its naval heritage, the Periscopic Tree will be painted from trunk to canopy in stylish battleship gray.

Debby and Larry Kline’s work can be found in numerous corporate and private collections. Upcoming projects for 2004 include exhibitions at Southwestern College, San Diego, and SF Camerawork, San Francisco.

AP: $20,000

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Pleasant Tree
Jorge Blanco

Medium: Aluminum
One of Jorge Blanco’s most cherished childhood memories is that of sitting on the highest branch of a tree and watching the world around him. This memory is expressed in his piece, “Pleasant Tree,” constructed in aluminum with a glossy red powder coating. Blanco enjoys creating large-scale sculpture for public spaces so people from all walks of life can appreciate it. He believes art should always be available to us, surround us, and uplift us.

Blanco was born in Caracas, Venezuela and currently lives and works in Sarasota, Florida.

AP: $18,000

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Sky-sketch
David Beck-Brown

Medium: Steel
Beck-Brown demonstrates how the design of this tree emphasizes the brevity and quality of a simple line drawing etched against the sky. As weather conditions change, cloud patterns differ and the colors of the sky fade in and out, changing the visual texture of the sculpture.

Beck-Brown lives in La Mesa and has had numerous works displayed in the Southern California region.

AP: $9,500

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Soft Sculpture Carrot
Lauren Jackson

Medium: Fabric and metal
Blending the elements of soft, natural and organic, with the massive steel and concrete found in cities was the challenge Lauren Jackson when creating her carrot. "I considered the size, shape and location of the Urban Tree and felt a larger than life orange carrot would look spectacular against the (colors) of San Diego Bay." Also, Jackson found the carrot to be a universal root that is enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their social class. Creating her carrot from fabrics stitched together and embellished with found objects, reflects the merging of cultures and ideas, as well as the beauty, warmth and resilience of the people who make up a thriving and vibrant urban setting.

Jackson is originally from Brooklyn and now lives in San Diego.

AP: $7,500

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Solar Illumination
Nina Karavasiles

Medium: Solar panel, steel, concrete and lights
Outfitted with a solar panel, Nina Karavasiles’ piece “Solar Illumination” has the ability to produce its own light source. The solar panel powers the lights during the night and has a 24-hour viewing time. Represented by small balls of tin foil, the lights stretch across the arched form while the lights inside the steel shine downward.

Karavasiles lives in Warner Springs, California and has an extensive commission, exhibition and exhibit record.

AP: $6,000

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Solar Powered Spaghetti w/ Meatball
Jim Trask

Medium: PVC
Imagine a new type of pasta noodle that where marinara sauce is injected directly into it. That’s the idea behind Solar Powered Spaghetti w/ Meatball. The solar panel atop the tree powers a liquid pump at the bottom of the tubing (noodles) sending a forthy, red, bubbling liquid (marinara sauce) through the tube.

With the goal of utilizing the bay’s natural elements, artist Jim Trask set out to create a tree that would be intriguing for its quirky concept and self-propulsion.

Trask resides in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

AP: $14,500

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Soundshade
Adam Kisor

Medium: Steel
After spending time in the San Diego Children’s Musuem, Adam Kisor realized what attracts people to sculptures. He found that inter interaction with art, rather than just observing it, was much more interesting to kids and adults. Using this idea, Kisor created Sound Shade, a large sheet metal disk supported by steel chains that allow it to hang freely and securely away from the "trunk" of the tree. Visitors can interact with the tree by moving a handle, connected to hammers above that will strike a cylinder, producing a resonating sound.

Kisor lives in Burbank, California and has worked on numerous projects in the San Diego area.

AP: $2,000

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Surfboard Cedar Survivor
Doug Snider and Linda JoanouBetsy Kopshina Schulz and Hans Tegebo

Medium: rebar, ceramics
The surfboard … a natural artifact found near any body of San Diego water. But there is a deeper meaning behind this board. As Schulz put it, "The forces of nature shape our environment and the shapes of nature inspire the designs we create." The cypress is pointed skyward, like a tree. Pulling from San Diego’s rich surf history, this artwork blends the shape of the board with the grace of a tree.

AP: $12,000

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Symbols of San Diego
Doty and Mehner

Medium: Copper
The "Symbols of San Diego," created by Doty and Mehner, integrates many representations of life in the city of San Diego. These include a large family with men, women and children diving into San Diego waters, several Navy and Marine caps, a sail boat, a panda, avocados and various ocean mammals.

Doty currently lives in San Diego and has exhibits in various parts of San Diego County, Tijuana and Pisa, Italy.

AP: $5,000

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Tap Root and Growth
Christopher Lee

Medium: Aluminum, glass, steel, wood, prisms
"Tap Root & Growth," produced by Christopher Lee, is an abstracted tree comprised of an aluminum cone balanced on its tip with a 30-inch diameter glass disc that gathers and disperses available sunlight. Attached to the surface of the tree will be various flexible stainless steel rods with prisms at each end. The rods and prisms will move freely in the wind, catching the sunlight and refracting many patterns in the surrounding area.

Lee currently lives in San Diego and maintains a studio in La Mesa.

AP: $10,000

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The Happy Tree
Doug Snider and Linda Joanou

Don’t worry, be happy. That’s what Doug Snider conveys in his happy urban tree. The tree honors his species of "Doug Bugs," artistic insects made of solid architectural clay. Doug Bugs have been a part of Snider’s art for years, but never this big. "The name came up five years ago when I was working with kids on an art project. They liked the bugs, my name is Doug and they just put the two together."

The bugs have vibrant color to them, have interesting facial expressions and have a mission of bringing happiness to all that see them.

AP: $5,000

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The Puzzle Tree
John S. Stokes III and Bob Archer

Medium: Steel and wood
"The Puzzle Tree," constructed by John Stokes and Bob Archer, commemorates the jigsaw puzzle and creativity. The Puzzle Tree's 24 jigsaw puzzle pieces actually fit to form an interlocking jigsaw puzzle. Inquisitive spectators may mentally move, rotate and flip the components as needed to connect the puzzle pieces. To date, Stokes has cut over 400 custom puzzles ranging from six to over 1,800 pieces. He has developed several innovative cutting styles, including his elaborate creative cutting style.

Stokes has been a San Diego resident since January 1987 and is one of the few fulltime wooden jigsaw puzzle makers in the United States.

AP: $12,000

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Tree of Life
Artist: Louise McDowell

Medium: Aluminum
This unique tree sculpture, which intertwines different aspects of San Diego wildlife, represents the richness of life and the interrelationships that exist in any ecosystem. Artist Louise McDowell, conducted research of San Diego wildlife while working on an art proposal for the city of Chula Vista, Calif., where the Chula Vista Nature Center is located. The tree combines the life found on San Diego Bay and other immediate environments of San Diego.

AP: $5,000

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Tree Rings
Christie Beniston

Medium: clay ceramics
It’s one of the first things we’re taught in environmental science. Find an old tree trunk, count the lines circulating the diameter of the trunk and you’ll determine how long that hunk of wood has been there. Despite having 40 rings, however, this tree is nowhere near 40 years old. But the trusteeship of the land it sits upon is.

Beniston was inspired by the 40 years of Port of San Diego history when she conceptualized her tree. The 40 rings symbolize the Port’s timeline, and at various intervals there is text relating to events in the organization’s history. The tree is composed of stacked ceramic rings that have been fired and glazed.

Beniston is from Solana Beach and is an exhibiting member of the Association of Clay and Glass Artists of California, currently serving on the Solana Beach Public Art Advisory Committee.

AP: $12,000

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Urban Evergreen
Fritzie Urquhart

Medium: Wire and foam
Creating art that celebrates extraordinary qualities in ordinary people and events is the central theme of artist, Fritzie Urquhart. Her creation, "Urban Evergreen", constructed with green electric wire and triangles of colored foam, is no exception. "I enjoy the challenge and sense of invention that comes with discovering new solutions in the design and use of materials, and in the engineering of art projects to achieve a special or unexpected result."

Urquhart lives in Carlsbad and has worked on numerous projects in the San Diego area.

AP: $8,500

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