Sculpting Dead Trees gives them a Fifth Season

What is it about?

Why Sculpt Trees? Trees may be dying in Chicago at a quickening pace due to stress from changes in climate and other factors. Warmer temperatures, new insects, invasive species, and volatile weather are pervasive. These problems compound the difficulties trees already face in the harsh urban landscape. Emerald ash borer and other invasive insects will cause thousands of ash trees in Chicago’s parks and parkways to die in the next few years. Potential climate change stressors include drought, heavier snows, and higher winds. The large canopy absorbs significant amounts of CO2 and releases oxygen. Losing mature trees compounds global warming by allowing more carbon dioxide to trap the sun’s rays in our atmosphere causing a greenhouse effect. The dead tree trunks are needed for nesting birds and wildlife, for migrating birds to feed and rest and for a large variety of insects to feed and reproduce. The canopy offers shade and a windbreak; the roots reach deep to break up soil and absorb heavy rains. Trees that have died are also contributors to the natural urban environment. Insects and beetle larvae thrive on the bark and wood and become nutrition for wildlife. Woodpeckers, flickers and chickadees thrive on the insects. Microclimate communities of plants grow under dead trees in wooded areas. Fungus and mushroom growth rots the dead trees offering another food source. Sculpting trees reminds us to reduce our carbon footprint.

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Why is it important?

The Chicago Tree Project is an innovative model for a site-specific public art project highlighting the effects of climate change. Sculptors pay tribute to the life the decades-old trees have offered. Sculpting trees gives them a fifth season as art and a communicates that increase carbon dioxide, leading to invasive species and volatile weather, is compromising the longevity of oxygen-giving mature tree canopies.

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