By Jenny Zeller
Stuart Ian Frost, a British artist currently living in Norway, creates large-scale sculptural installations using raw materials, frequently including dead trees, while considering a particular site’s history, topography, architecture, and culture.
While exploring the site-specific possibilities for his L+A+N+D installation, Stuart focused his attention on the burl that was housed under the green roof near the Education Center for many years. He was given approval to bring new life to this piece. This massive burl came from a mature oak tree commonly referred to as the Rabbit Tree because of its visual resemblance to this fluffy mammal. The Rabbit Tree is believed to have been one of the oldest and largest trees in Guerilla Hollow and served as a marker of identification for many who picnicked there.
The tree fell during an ice storm in January 2014. Part of the stump, showcasing its tree rings, is used as an interpretive display in the Visitor Center, and part of it was used in the original play garden. Stuart brought new life to this unique piece, transforming it into a mesmerizing display of carved patterns reminiscent of English ivy’s distinctive five-pronged leaf structure. The piece is a thought-provoking exploration of the delicate balance between native and non-native flora, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of ecological harmony.
Frost’s Bernheim Burl celebrates the history of this special tree and its significance to Bernheim as the piece returns to the general area it originated from.
Do you have or know any stories about the Rabbit Tree? If so, please contact Arts in Nature Curator Jenny Zeller at jzeller@bernheim.org.
