‘Tree of Life’ at Sunnyside Home is the region’s newest piece of public art
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The Tree of Life, the region’s 11th installation of public art, was dedicated September 6 in a brief ceremony on the grounds in front of Sunnyside Home in Kitchener that included the artist Ernest Daetwyler’s explanation of why he chose the tree as a subject. Daetwyler’s daughter, Dana, enjoyed climbing inside the sculpture that was constructed using a 100-year-old apple tree and one tonne of bronze.
By Carrie DebroneKitchener Citizen
September 13, 2012
Waterloo Region has a lot of trees, but few are as interesting as the one now located near the front entrance of Sunnyside Home in Kitchener.
The Tree of Life, the region’s 11th installation of public art, was dedicated September 6 in a brief ceremony on the grounds in front of Sunnyside Home that included the artist Ernest Daetwyler’s explanation of why he chose the tree as a subject and how he created the bronze sculpture.
Daetwyler, who studied in Italy and Switzerland, has multi-disciplinary work on display in Canada and internationally.
He is the recipient of arts awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the PAAG Ontario Association of Art Galleries Exhibition of the year award, pro Helvetia in Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Office of culture, The Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Awards (Visual Artist of the Year), Agenda Arts and Culture Pasewalk in Germany and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York city.
Using one tonne of bronze, the intricate tree sculpture with its branches and roots fused together to create a sphere, was made using a real 100-year-old apple tree from a farm in Atwood, near Milverton. Daetwyler explained that after an extensive search to find the perfect tree, he found it with the help of his father who spotted the apple orchard where it was growing. Daetwyler said he chose it for its mystical shape.
Daetwyler bought the tree from the farm, located near his home, digging it (and its roots) up. He transported it
to his studio where he created a stand to hold it upright.
Using the branches that naturally curved, and totally
recreating other branches to form its spherical shape
where the roots and upper branches are joined, he created a wood and wax form that became the casting mold.
It was a process that took more than five months to complete.
Cast by Art Cast in Georgetown, Ontario, the sculpture took another five months to complete before a dark finishing patina was applied to make it appear old.
Daetwyler said he chose a tree as the subject for the sculpture because of its spiritual symbolism and because it depicts the interconnectedness of all life. He explained that it is a symbol that means many things to many people including maturity, wisdom and immortality of humanity as well as fertility, family ties and our relationship to nature.
He invited visitors to “make this sculpture yours,” and to enjoy it. “It is a great day and we can all be proud of what we have achieved here,” he said.
Trevor Ince, resident and President of the Sunnyside Home Resident’s Council, Beatrice Golbeck, tenant at 245 Franklin Street North and Lorraine Lashley, tenant and President of the Friendship Club of 233 Franklin Street North, cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the Tree of Life.
The Region of Waterloo began its Public Art Program in 2002 with the goal of increasing the stature and maturity of the community, elevating the cultural profile and adding another feature for consideration in people’s choices of places to live and work. The region has involved artists from across the country in artwork competitions that are used to select public art.
In total, there are now 30 public works of art on display throughout the region.
Eleven are funded by the region and the remaining 19 by the seven area municipalities.