Bottle Cap Tree by Kitty Gordon, San Rafael, California

Each year Americans consume bottled beverages by the millions. Although a certain percentage of these bottles are recycled, typically the bottle cap is not. The Bottle Cap Treechallenges us to think differently about the things that are idly thrown away and reminds us that something as seemingly insignificant as a bottle cap can have a second life and needn’t to be so easily forgotten or discarded. Dimensions: 10.6’ H x 4.6’ W

Kinetic Wind Sculpture by David Boyer, Reno, Nevada

David uses old found objects in his art for several reasons. First and foremost is the fact that he really likes the look of old metal. As a confirmed desert rat, he has spent much of his spare time adventuring in the deserts of Northern Nevada and California. The old metals and rusting artifacts he often finds on these adventures have a fantastic timeworn color and texture that only comes with great age and weathering. By incorporating these aged found objects in his art, he is able to give a piece a look that warms the heart and imparts a sense of nostalgia. Additionally, he likes using found objects in his art for the sense of satisfaction he receives; satisfaction that comes from knowing that something old, discarded, and forgotten has been transformed into a thing of beauty that others can enjoy. Dimensions: 14’ H x 10’ W

Pan’s Perch by Ryan Jackson, Reno, Nevada

Pan’s Perch is a steel sculpture of a tree bearing fruit, lotus flowers hanging from the branches at various states of opening, and the image of the Celtic Green Man. It is a place of communion and conversation, and provokes contemplation about the loss of such “covent gardens” in the modern world. As we lose more of our natural places of serenity, will steel substitutes become the expected? A steel worker by trade, Ryan finds deep satisfaction in using the waste material from the shops that he works in. Ryan hopes that people see through his work that “scrap” can be made into something beautiful.  The use of scrap material is a good part of his ‘mojo’ as an artist.  Dimensions: 13.5’H x 10’ W

Refoliation by Jennifer Forbes, Jessica Reeder, Bay Area, California

The concept for Refoliation was sparked by Carissa Welton, an American expatriate in Beijing. Dismayed by the litter problem that plagues all major cities and inspired by local residents’ efforts to clean up the streets, she proposed a piece that would make use of the plastic bags caught in tree branches throughout Beijing. What resulted was a collaborative effort taking place on two continents: artists in Oakland created five trees out of 100% recycled and re-purposed steel, while volunteers in China gathered plastic bags and manufactured hundreds of leaves. Refoliation is a symbol of the myriad ways that the detritus of the industrial world can be refashioned into something beautiful. Through its display, Refoliation is an expression of hope for forests of the future, and reminds viewers that the path to a more beautiful world starts at their front door.
Dimensions: 10’ H x 5.10’ W

Tree Spire Project by Iron Monkeys~ David “Tabasco” Mills, Seattle, Washington

Encasing the base of the trunk of Tree Spire, the viewer will find inviting woodwork and steel benches. Tree Spire invites participants to take a moment (or ten) out of their day or night to have a seat under a tree and appreciate their surroundings.  Illuminating the trees, steel-framed organically shaped lanterns, covered with fabric and lit by LED’s, hang from the branches. Working with the wind, the lanterns will be free to spin in the breeze.  The artist’s use of traditional blacksmithing forms such as scrolls in the smaller branches pays homage to the trade of blacksmithing, to which the piece owes much of it’s structural integrity. Dimensions:  15′ H x 7’ W