Hive | Artwork

The Chicago Tree Project (CTP) is a collaborative initiative between the Chicago Park District and Chicago Sculpture International. The CTP is an annual citywide effort to transform sick and dying trees into vibrant public art rather than cutting them down. Using art as a vessel for public engagement, sculptors transform trees into fun and whimsical experiences for the greater Chicago community. Each year, twelve new trees are installed throughout the city. A complete map and more information can be found at www.chicagotreeproject.org

Artist's Statement: I decided to make a sculpture attached to a tree that would give the impression of a beehive or a nest.  Linden branches were made available to me by the Department of Streets and Sanitation.  I chose thin flexible branches and coiled them into a dome-like shape.  Each branch was wired side by side to the other branches in multiple places to assure stability and the correct form.  The dome- like shape was mounted on the side of a tree as if it was built outward from the trunk.

The park staff was very helpful to me as I installed the sculpture on a very windy day.  A man at the park was worried that Hive had bees living in it.  I assured him that bees would not be a problem.  It only looks like a hive.  I would love an animal to move into my sculpture, but it would most likely be a bird or squirrel.  I will have to visit the sculpture often to check for residents.

People walk past natural elements every day without noticing them.  With my sculpture, I try to bring attention to natural life forms, challenging the viewer’s beliefs on nature.  My sculpture allows viewers to consider what they know about nature.  Hopefully they will also learn to value the natural elements they see every day at Portage Park and the rest of Chicago.