Some Wonderful Galveston Art Created From Devastation
Leave it to artists to take devastation and create art. I’m proud to be an artist when I see something like this. Not only are they wonderful pieces of art it is a way to encourage more tourism for our beloved Galveston. I can’t wait to see these. If anyone finds a map of where all of these are please forward me the link.
A little bit of information before the art:
On September 1, 2008 the Houston, Texas area received a blow from a Hurricane called Ike. The amount of devastation that happened in this area went pretty much unreported over the United States. As wiki says (… It also became the largest search-and-rescue operation in U.S. history) I know it was not covered at great extent because the week after the hurricane I was traveling up to deliver the Dick Hathaway memorial by car from Houston, Texas to Montpelier, Vermont. ( The link is my documentation of that sculpture as well as the travels as we delivered it. My September 2008 posts talk a bit also mention this trip along with our preparations for this hurricane. )
My traveling companion and I would check back home and on the internet to find out as much as we could about Houston, and our beloved Galveston. [ I’ll add this personal observation. Many people who did hear about the hurricane said, “Why didn’t those people leave?” For those not in a hurricane area I must tell you NO ONE realized the type of storm surge that was attached to this category 2 hurricane. For us a cat 2 is really not that big of a deal, but there was a storm surge of a category 5. I believe this storm and the devastation that was caused by it really caused those powers at be to think about the way they categorize these storms.
On to the art: Tree Stump Carvings In Galveston
What follows came into my inbox and I though I would share it. Photos are by Carlos Antonio Rios. It looks like this might be from an original article in the Chronicle By Lana Berkowitz. lana.berkowitz@chron.com.
Thank you Lana for sending this around. I definitely will be going to Galveston and checking these out. I have not asked permission to use this article , and hope there is no copyright infringement here, since it is distributed through e mail by a reputable source, I figure it is all right. If there are any problems please let me know and I will delete it.
Information provided through e-mail
The toad? The Tin Man? The Dalmatian?
It’s hard to choose a favorite among the tree sculptures that are carving a new beginning for Galveston Island .
The transformation of tree skeletons that were reminders of Hurricane Ike’s 2008 devastation is another sign of the island’s recovery. And tourists love the chain-saw and chisel artwork.
More than 20 tree-stump sculptures can be viewed from sidewalks and streets, and more are joining the list as commissions are completed. Many of the carvings are by Galveston artist Earl Jones, Houston artist Jim Phillips and Dayle Lewis of Richmond , Ind.
The artists have plenty of potential work. About 40,000 of the island’s trees died after they were swamped by storm waters. Contractors cut down the dead trees and left the stumps, which are becoming dogs, angels, dolphins, toads, mermaids and more.
Here’s a list of Galveston Island Tree Sculptures visible from the street, according to www.cityofgalveston.org: Need a map? download or print one of these Galvestohttps://galvestonislandguide.com/galveston-tree-sculptures/n maps to mark these works of art.
Geisha, 1717 Ball
Mermaid holding clam shell, 1428 Church
Large pelican, 1609 Post Office
Wildlife tree inside the castle playground at Schreiber Park, 83rd Street near Airport
Dalmatian and a fireplug at City Hall outside Central Fire Station, 823 25th
Toad, 1615 Ball
Angel cradling bunny, 511 17th
Sister angels, 1717 Ball
Squirrel with acorn, 1302 Ball
Tin Man from theWizard of Oz, 1702 Winnie
Monument to Galveston’s trees, 1028 Winnie
Yellow Lab, 1820 Winnie (inside chain-link fence)
Hand clutching diploma at Wright-Cuney Park, 718 41st
Two herons, 1316 Ball
Great Dane, 1228 Sealy (facing 13th)
Other tree sculptures in Galveston:
Wildlife totem pole, 1302 Ball
Dolphin, 828 Ball (facing Ninth)
Dolphin, eel and dorado, 1302 Ball
Owl, 1302 Ball
Pod of dolphins and mermaid, 902 Ball
Birds of Galveston, 1620 Sealy
Pelican sitting on piling, 1618 Church
Pelicans, 628 14th (behind the Mosquito Café)
If you would like a sculpture done from your tree stump.
I was able to track down the website of Jim phillips. Check out his work and give him a call.
If there are any other carvers that want me to list their web sites please feel free to contact me.
Map of the area
Here is a map of the locations of these tree stumps.
Other Articles on this subject
In Galveston, Dead trees see new life as art by Harvey Rice Houston Chronicle Aug 24, 2009
Dolphins and Sea Nymph- Glaveston, Texas
Galveston Dead tree sculptures
In Galveston, Texas, new Life for Dead trees This appears to be an interview with Donna Leibbert who starts a citizen led tree committee.