When I was walking in Lesnes Abbey Woods last weekend, I came across this strange signpost-like sculpture atop the trunk of a dead tree. Its arms carried words including "family," "Wuthering Heights" and "Boletus edulis," as well as golden figurines of a monk, a boat, a heart, a shark's tooth and more.
I found it a bit perplexing, to be honest, but also interesting and weirdly beautiful. It was difficult to photograph against the surrounding trees.
You can see it better in silhouette against the gray sky.
When I came home I looked it up and found that it's called "Data Tree," by artist Jonathan Wright. Here's an explanation of the installation's various elements (but ignore the picture because, weirdly, that's not the same sculpture). Apparently it rotates, maybe in a high wind, but it wasn't moving the day I saw it. I was most interested to see that "Wuthering Heights" is a reference to talented singer and songwriter Kate Bush, who apparently went to school nearby and enjoyed walking in the woods. Brush with fame!
Remember our missing DVDs at work? Well, despite several public appeals, they never turned up. I suspect they got accidentally thrown away. Some mysteries are never solved, right?
We've had another ongoing incident of missing property -- the library's Guardian newspaper has been disappearing each morning. We subscribe to two newspapers, and the Times of London always comes, but the Guardian has been iffy. We wondered if it simply wasn't being delivered, but we did some research -- again using security camera footage -- and found that one of the teachers was taking it off the front desk as he came into school! My boss contacted him and he was very apologetic. Apparently he thought it was there for the taking and didn't realize it belonged to the library.
There were fireworks going off in our neighborhood last night. Were these leftovers from Bonfire Night, or was something else happening? I'm not sure. Mrs. Kravitz's daughter had a party involving hordes of screaming teenagers but they weren't the source of the fireworks. I went out this morning hoping to find her garden covered in beer cans and toilet paper in the trees, as after a house party in a John Hughes movie, but everything is as pristine and silent as usual so I guess the kids were well-behaved on the whole.
Remember our missing DVDs at work? Well, despite several public appeals, they never turned up. I suspect they got accidentally thrown away. Some mysteries are never solved, right?
We've had another ongoing incident of missing property -- the library's Guardian newspaper has been disappearing each morning. We subscribe to two newspapers, and the Times of London always comes, but the Guardian has been iffy. We wondered if it simply wasn't being delivered, but we did some research -- again using security camera footage -- and found that one of the teachers was taking it off the front desk as he came into school! My boss contacted him and he was very apologetic. Apparently he thought it was there for the taking and didn't realize it belonged to the library.
There were fireworks going off in our neighborhood last night. Were these leftovers from Bonfire Night, or was something else happening? I'm not sure. Mrs. Kravitz's daughter had a party involving hordes of screaming teenagers but they weren't the source of the fireworks. I went out this morning hoping to find her garden covered in beer cans and toilet paper in the trees, as after a house party in a John Hughes movie, but everything is as pristine and silent as usual so I guess the kids were well-behaved on the whole.
The teacher thought the individual, new, daily copy of The Guardian sitting on the desk was his for the taking... and his alone? Either he’s not being completely honest or he doesn’t think much. (Sorry... my NYC cynicism coming through.) I find Data Tree interesting... although the silhouette makes me think of something else.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what he was thinking, except that in the UK many newspapers ARE free, like the Evening Standard and the Metro, which you can pick up at the tube stations. Maybe he's just used to not paying for a paper?
DeleteOne copy of The Guardian there for the taking. Benefit of the doubt goes the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful wind powered sculpture here and then high rise buildings grew around it and it ceased to spin.
I wonder if Mrs Kravitz was at home as the party went on and picked up the detritus as it fell from hands.
They need to move your sculpture to a new spot!
DeleteOh, and I doubt Mrs. Kravitz would have been picking anything up herself. She'd have had her household helper doing it. (She really does have a maid, with the very "Handmaid's Tale" name of Martha.)
DeleteCan someone really be as oblivious as the teacher taking the Guardian?! I suppose if one grew up with luxuries provided at every turn at no charge, or someone with limited social skills ... most people, though, would realize one copy of the newspaper would not be free to the first taker. It kind of boggles the mind. Or maybe I'm just cranky about the world going to pot in all kinds of big and small ways.
ReplyDeleteIt's a hopeful sign, I guess, when a party has no visible aftermath!
I can't imagine what he was thinking, unless it's like I explained to Mitchell above. Also, he's originally from another country, so maybe that's part of it...?
DeleteWhat an intriguing sculpture, although I am hoping they/he didn't lop the top of a perfectly healthy tree. You have Mrs. Kravitz and I have the Screaming Family. Apparently, they can only communicate with each other by yelling.
ReplyDeleteNo! The tree was already dead. They chose the dead trunk for the sculpture.
DeleteWe also have an installation by the same artist and others, on the promenade in Hove. It's on a big square plinth and the arms are rather small by comparison. I've never seen it rotate.
ReplyDeleteRegarding previous 'quilt' post. No research was done. I quilt. The owner has been in the business for over 30 years I think and is quite well known. He just moved the shop from Hampstead.
Two comments in two days. I should lie down!
Wow, I'm impressed you knew the shop and the owner off the top of your head! Interesting about the other sculpture. I need to get down to Hove one of these days.
DeletePerhaps it was just a recording of a wild teenage party played over loudspeakers to annoy you and Dave and other neighbours. Mrs Kravitz probably intends to play that recording every Friday night. She's not just a pretty face you know!
ReplyDeleteNot unless there were also holograms involved, because I saw the kids moving around in the garden!
DeleteReading the backstory of the data sculpture was interesting, and you could see the evolution of the place and what it means to people.
ReplyDeleteThe one copy of the paper belonged to the first person to grab it? Hm...
Yeah, I know, it really doesn't make sense.
DeleteThat Data Tree is fascinating but I have to say I'm puzzled by the fact that the description page is showing a different version. At first I thought maybe there was more than one but the description only references one sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI love Kate Bush. I discovered her on my very first trip to London. I was in the huge Tower Records store that used to be near Piccadilly Circus and they were playing one of her albums. I asked the clerk about it and ended up buying the album. I think it was a cassette tape back then.
I know -- isn't that weird? Why couldn't they update the page with a picture of the real thing?
DeleteI love the sculpture; I love art that is just out there for you to stumble upon. It makes it seem more special.
ReplyDeleteThat teacher was stealing the paper and he knows it.
You may be right. He just seems like such a nice guy that's hard for me to understand!
DeleteI'm with Bob on everything he said.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I was cynical! You guys are hard-core! :)
DeleteThat is a very interesting data tree. You do find some very cool things on your walks.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine that the teacher didn't know he was simply stealing the newspaper.
He must have been appalled when he realized there was camera footage!
DeleteMetal on wood , not a fan, had the sculpture been of wood I wood like it better, (see what I did there?) Nice surprise to find on an ordinary day where you least expect it.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the metal. I get the impression from the web page that it's a temporary installation, which is surprising. Seems like they might want to just leave it up? (Or maybe I'm wrong.)
DeleteThe sculpture itself doesn't do a whole lot for me but I love the idea of coming on something like that in the woods.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was unexpected and therefore amazing!
DeleteI'm curious about the DVDs ... will the company replace them or refund the money? One or the other should be forthcoming, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Data Tree ... so, that in itself, is curious! LOL
My boss still hasn't decided what to do, but if they haven't surfaced by now I don't think they're going to. She may go back to the company and make some requests/demands. I'll let you know!
DeleteI thought Guardian readers were socialists.
ReplyDeleteNot that there's anything wrong with that, as they say on "Seinfeld"!
DeleteThat's a mystery solved.
ReplyDeleteNow if only those darn DVDs would surface!
DeleteWhen our adult neighbors are gone overnight, their two kids have parties that go on until 3 am. Loud parties, lots of music. It's annoying, there is no sleep to be had.
ReplyDeleteThat data tree art installation does not speak to me.
Fortunately this isn't THAT crazy. It was pretty much finished by 11 p.m. or so. Can you call the cops? Is that an option?
DeleteI'm in agreement with most of what's been said about the newspaper pilfering teacher...
ReplyDeleteThe sculpture is interesting, but why on earth is a different photo used on the explanatory site?
No idea! It does seem like a significant oversight or failing on the part of the web designer!
Delete