Tree of Light, Central Library Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, the City in a Forest, is a place of deep roots and rich history.
As a gathering place for knowledge, this library serves as its heart – its modern Tree of Science – drawing in its community and branching out to others.
Tree of Light is a poem of light expressing interconnected ideas of our appreciation of trees. A sculpture made of text inscribed mirror discs arranged like the leaves on a tree while referencing Marcel Breuer’s original quartet of skylights: four circles of light, poised in the corners of a square.
The words engraved on the discs are a product of the community, collected through a process of word play and arranged by Atlanta based poet Valerie Respress.
*The Tree of Science, written in 1295 by mystic and philosopher Ramon Llull, was an early version of an encyclopedia format aimed to inform the general public.
- Commission
- The Fulton County Public Art Collection
- Location
- Central Library - One Margaret Mitchell Sq Atlanta
- Project Architect
- Linda Just
- Poet
- Valerie Respress
- Fabrication and Installation
- The Chicago Flyhouse
- Photography
- Tom Meyer
Tree of Light, 2020
Mirror polished stainless steel discs, tubular suspension
Engraved poem by Valerie Respress
HOPEFUL PEACEFUL GIVING LIFE
WISDOM RESILIENCE HEALING STRIFE AROMATIC NECTAR BOLD LUSH IMAGINE ETERNITY SERENITY HUSH CANOPY SHADE HOME CALM
MYSTERIOUS CONNECTION MAJESTIC REBIRTH
REFRESHING BEAUTY MOTHER EARTH FUN SUN BREEZE BEGUN
CHILDREN SWINGING BEES STINGING PEACHES CLINGING FROGS SINGING REFRESHING REMARKABLE MEMORIES MADE
COLORFUL FOLIAGE DRAMATIC POETRY NURTURING SPLENDOR MAGNIFICENT TRANQUILITY
INSPIRATION SUSTAINING LIFE ETERNITY INTEGRITY ENDURING REBIRTH LONGEVITY
SOOTHING VIBES AMAZING NATURALLY ANCIENT SPIRITS SOULFUL SERENITY LOVE UNAFRAID PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY RENEW UNITE REJOICE COMMUNITY THRIVE NOURISH CREATE POSITIVITY THRIVE