Dead Oak reborn as art: Lively figure slowly takes form from tree
Traffic was a real problem, and the neighborhood wanted speed bumps. When the city wasn't forthcoming, the neighbors came up with something even more effective to slow down traffic: a nude woman.
A 12-foot nude female figure sculpted from a dead street tree has become a traffic-stopper on Eldemere Road.
"We've been trying to get (City Councilman) Dick DeCamp to get us some speed bumps for a long time. We've got something better," said businessman-turned-artist Solly Van Meter. who lives on Eldemere.
The sculpture stands in front of Jim and Donna Cornish's house at 1236 Eldemere. It's carved from one of their 70-year-old pin oaks that died earlier this summer.
Van Meter, a neighbor and friend, urged, "Don't cut it down. Let's do something fun with it."
The Cornishes agreed. Besides, Jim Cornish said jokingly, "There's nothing you can do I can't fix with a chain saw."
Van Meter started his "maiden experience at art" in early July. He faces a self-imposed deadline of Labor Day....
"This thing turned out to be a lot harder than I thought," he said. Rough shaping of the figure was done with a chain saw. He uses a hand grinding tool to make the more refined cuts.
Lexington's urban forester, Tim Queary, dropped by. "It's a good use of a dead street tree," he said. "I was pleased that the homeowners have planted a new tree next to the dead one," he added.
Nothing in the city ordinances prohibits transforming a dead street tree into art, he said. "We bridge the gap between urban forestry and public art with that sculpture."
And, if it slows traffic a bit...well, so much the better, eh?
