John Adamson- Tree Sculptor

Click here to see

Mother Earth / Community Tree

Before the Name Leaves were fixed on	After the Names Leaves were attached

The Mother Earth / Community Tree is set in a small community garden behind some old houses in East Manchester. It had been a bit of wasteland behind two rows of houses. Then one row was demolished and the area became a general dumping ground. The council wanted to make it into yet another car park but the residents formed the Clayton Lane Organisation Group {C.L.O.G} to fight for a better deal. With the help of the Groundwork Trust they had it fenced and landscaped.     I was asked to carve a community tree, but proposed a Mother Earth figure because she is about the greening of the earth and the well being of all the community. The residents wanted to have a record of their names on the tree, so I carved 38 name leaves that form a decoration on her dress. For the smokers of the community I carved 3 ash-tray holders in the shape of small bushes. The garden was eventually named Ash Garden, but only because it contains some ash trees

Unusually for me, the tree had not grown on site, and a large beech log had to be brought and set in concrete. Normally people ask 'How long has that tree been there? This time a passer-by said 'Great garden but you would have thought that they would have taken that old tree stump out while they were doing it'! The log was fairly straight and solid except for a small bit of rot just where I wanted to carve the face. The wood was 3 foot in diameter and I wanted to use as much of it as possible, so the figure had to be quite stout, without being obese or just looking pregnant. This I found quite a challenge and had to do some research. It is not easy finding where to put fat on the body, as it is not really a question you can ask the people who have the problem and would know the answers. The community wanted the figure to be wearing clogs as they are the traditional footwear of the area and fit in with the name of the organisation. The figure is holding a plant and a trowel, with another plant on the ground to help support the figure

Most of the work is done with a chain saw. This can be a surprisingly sensitive cutting tool that can almost be bent round to cut the shape required. For the hands and faces a large broad and shallow gouge and a mallet will be used. A chain saw is too big for this sort of delicate work and the surface texture produced by the hand tools will contrast with the chain saw cut and emphasise the difference between the clothing and flesh.

Click here to see