The Tree of Kovel
Episode I
An Unexpected Bond Across Borders
In late 2024, the Balance Design Firm asked me to create an interior tree for the newly renovated City Hall of Chamblee, Georgia. I’d never made a tree, but you know I love a challenge! Several months later, I met with the Balance team again to finalize the first design. The lead designer mentioned that the City of Chamblee had adopted a town in Ukraine when the war started in 2022.
As it happened, my son’s girlfriend was visiting him at the time. They met in a very charming way as volunteers on a small, sustainable farm in Calabria, Italy. On a visit to the farm, my husband and I had the chance to meet this young woman, Liza, who was from a tiny town in western Ukraine.
I mentioned the City of Chamblee tree project and the city had adopted a Ukrainian city as part of the International Sisters City Project. A little digging later, we learned the city of Kovel, Ukraine was the city adopted by Chamblee, Georgia. In case you hadn’t figured it out, it’s Liza’s tiny hometown.
What are the chances of this? Truly.
I knew immediately I would call her ‘The Tree of Kovel’ as a symbol of solidarity and strength. The tree is almost complete, but here’s a sneak peak and something out of my comfort zone…a video.
Episode II
Building the Tree
The moment I found out the City of Chamblee, Georgia and Kovel, Ukraine were sister cities, the tree became my passion project.
Like all projects, I begin with the vessel, client, and space. Here my client is the Balance Design Team. I want to thank these amazing women for sticking with my vision, offering invaluable suggestions (even if they were hard to hear).
The vessel had to be a tree stump. I just knew this in my heart, but where was I going to find a tree stump, get it to my studio, and create a vessel? A big thank you to Ranna Moore of Mary Frances Maker for jokingly sending me a text of a dead boxwood elm in her backyard her landlord had cut down and was going to throw in the creek.
Again, what are the chances of this?
The tree was so dead it was hollowed out and may have small critters living inside. Here she is in her deadwood state after 100 years of life.
I sprung into action and got my wonderful landscaper to pick it up and bring it to my studio. I watched a youtube video on removing bark and the solution was a hatchet and sander and lots of elbow grease.
I made the biggest mess with it!
The studio was so dusty I had to have it professionally cleaned (including the walls!) and the ducts flushed. I have now learned not to sand something so large inside!
I had a dear friend pick it up and take it to finish cleaning and sanding, bringing it back to me in a much better shape.
To fit the aesthetic of the Balance Design Team, I decided to mix a small amount of plaster with metallic paint and hand painted layer up layer. I painted the branches in a similar tone and started making the leaves.
I’ve made loads of leaves, but these needed to be beautiful and conjure calm and tonally work with the greens and blues the Balance Team had infused into the furnishings and decor of the City Hall.
Here’s a peak at the leaves and some video about my passion for this project and some fun bits about the mess I made!
Episode III
Where creativity meets problem-solving
Much of art involves solving problems. The Tree of Kovel is the solution to several issues facing the newly renovated Chamblee City Hall. What problem?
Well, take a look at the banquet. Looks fine from this angle. But look at this angle. It’s what the legal field calls “an attractive nuisance”. I mean if I were a kid on that banquet, I would totally jump in there to retrieve the thing I accidentally dropped in there. Wouldn’t you? Problem is, it’s not actually intended to be a play pit!
Kids were not the only issue. Adults thought it fun to dance and even twerk (yes, this actually was a problem). Adult women were getting in the pit to dance and the other thing while being videoed for social media!
Originally, the Balance Design team had proposed a live tree, but the city didn’t want to maintain a live tree. I also don’t think a tree inside the pit would solve the issue of kids or adults getting in the pit. It could be even more attractive
So, I proposed occluding (great word meaning closing) the opening with a table top. Placing a tree I made directly on the table created another issue. We don’t want kids trying to grab or swing on my branches! So, we designed a riser to go on top of the table to elevate the tree out of child’s reach.
Here’s the concept and how it’s shaping up.
Episode IV
The Power of Art
This episode is the hardest to write and speak about. You wouldn’t think a riser, some rocks, and some brass leaves could bring Liza and I to tears. But they did.
I mounted the tree trunk to the riser, painting the riser a beautiful, deep green. I painted river stones in various metallics mixed with the blues and greens in the leaves. I glued the rocks to the top of the riser until the blend of colors seemed right.
The Balance Team saw the brass leaves in my studio and asked if they could be the fallen leaves around the tree. The leaves as you may know were drawn as a doodle by Liza while she visited the studio (long before there was a tree). Mary Frances Maker had the leaves made in 3 sizes in copper and brass.
I took the brass leaves, hammered and bent them, primed, painted, sanded, painted, and sanded again. I placed them in various positions on the rocks. When Stephanie Andrews, the owner of Balance Design Atlanta, saw them, she whispered to me: “they represent the fallen."
When Liza came to visit the tree on behalf of the people of Kovel, I shared the brass leaves represent and honor the fallen. Barely holding back my own tears, I grabbed her hand and reminded her that the tree is cut, but has grown back stronger. The tree is strength, resiliency, and hope.
I believe this tree is the honor of my life to make and share. Thanks for reading and listening.
Episode V
The Tree Departs for its Next Chapter
You really cannot comprehend how substantive the tree is until it’s wrapped and ready for transport.
This week the Studio said goodbye to the tree stump and riser. Transporting the tree took 3 very strong men with directorial control by me.
We forgot how much larger the Studio is without the tree and riser. I want to thank my Studio mates, Shannon Coppage, Mary Frances Maker, and Ranna Moore for tolerating this huge piece and for all their encouragement and support despite the inconvenience of having it here so long. That’s reason number 100 I love the Studio so much!
As we bid the tree goodbye until installation in November, we are also coming to the end of Liza’s time here in 2025. She returns to her home in Kovel, Ukraine until her return in February.
We'll have more on the tree while she is away. Her return visit will include a formal dedication of the tree in which she will accept the tree on behalf of Kovel with the blessing of her hometown mayor.
She returns to Ukraine with a single brass leaf to give to the mayor as a sign of strength and devotion.
