Sacred Places
UMBC & The Joseph Beuys Tree Partnership
Thirty oaks and granite stones, planted in 2000 as social sculpture.
WHERE
Baltimore, MD
PARTNER INSTITUTION
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Visit
Where it is
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250
What happens here
UMBC students have been writing in the journal here since 2002, leaving the joy, sorrows, loves, heartbreaks, worries, and motivations of the years in which they were growing up. Each year the trees grow and the site gains significance.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
An idea takes root.
01
The Need
Joseph Beuys, the influential German artist who came to prominence in the 1960s, pressed for greater environmental awareness worldwide through his ongoing social sculpture project 7000 Oaks. On the postcard announcing the original project in 1982 he set an image of an oak above the words "An Idea Takes Root."
02
The Vision
The idea was that by involving many community members, ideas would take root, and people would set themselves in motion to plant more trees and improve their communities in other creative and self-determined ways. Baltimore became one of the major urban centers to embrace it, with over 20 organizations taking part.
03
The Transformation
From the fall of 2000, community volunteers planted 242 indigenous trees as social sculpture across Patterson Park, Carroll Park, Wyman Park Dell, and UMBC. In that first phase the initiators provided 100 trees each at Patterson and Carroll, 12 trees and 4 stones at Wyman Park Dell, and 30 oak trees and granite stones at UMBC. A special ceremony at each site celebrated the revitalized landscape. In all, 7000 Oaks inspired the planting of over 350 trees and several stones by more than 500 people. At UMBC the thirty trees and stones remain, and each year's growth adds to the site.
WHO TENDS IT
Rebecca Uchill
Firesoul, UMBC & The Joseph Beuys Tree Partnership
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Joby Taylor
Firesoul, UMBC & The Joseph Beuys Tree Partnership
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