Art form: 3-D

Medium: Steel/Cement/recylcled material sculpture of a tree holding a kaleidoscope.

Year created: 2009

Description of work: 20 foot high Steel and cement sculpture of a tree which is holding a kaleidoscope that the visitors can look through. The tree has a carved face in the trunk. Its branches extend out overhead and it's leaves are made of recycled plastic bottles and each is hand-painted and as uniquely different from each other as snowflakes. The 1200 brightly colored, hand-painted leaves will flutter overhead on branches that extend from the top of the tree.The 3 foot long kaleidoscope is filled with items from nature and can be turned by the viewer with a mounted handle. Drawing is a concept drawing of finished project. Boy looking at kaleidoscope represents a visitor enjoying the sculpture. You can follow my progress on facebook under Michael Glenn Monroe.

Work statement: I feel that it is important to get people back in touch with the natural world. I thought that the idea of a tree bent down holding a kaleidoscope with a view of items from nature would be engaging for people of all ages. Since I have worked on many children's books and know how much kids like colorful things, I have worked hard to make the tree very whimsical, colorful and fun. I have created sculptures before but this is my first major sculpture and I enjoyed blending my love of nature into a large, imaginative work of art.