Location:
2153 North Humboldt Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
Location Notes:
Southeast corner of the park across from school.
Located Within:
Palmer (John McAuley) Square Park
Artist:
Janet Austin
Medium:
Bronze, carved wood
Year Created:
2017
Features:
Outdoor, Temporary, Sculpture
Description
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: The dying ash tree in Palmer Square Park is embellished with a maze carved into the trunk. The maze is solved by starting at the bottom of the tree and winding up toward the branches. By following the tracks, one encounters several bronze larvae meandering up the tree. At the end of the tracks it becomes apparent that many bronze larvae are creating the maze and moving up into the bark.
The design of the maze was inspired by the tracks of the Emerald Ash Borer larvae that bore between the wood and the bark of the tree, blocking the capillaries from drawing nutrients and water from the ground to the leaves. Between one and three million ash trees in the city of Chicago will die from this infestation.
Map & Facilities
The A"Maze"ing Larvae of the Emerald Ash Borer | Artwork
2153 North Humboldt Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
United States
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