Tree Stories Sculpture, Hanley

Image: © Brian Deegan Taken: 3 May 2008

To create Tree Stories O’Connor worked closely with landscape design and planning team at the city council throughout the process. The artwork stands at Central Forest Park at the Town Road entrance, and is a truly site specific piece that was created in order to engage and unite the local community. O’Connor's company, Sculpture Works held workshops in November 2007 with local school children who explored Central Forest Park's coal mining history. This helped the creation of ‘tree stories’ become a community event and ensured that the sculpture represents the community in where it is situated as well as involving children in the design aspect of the project, creating a more personal connection with the artwork. The 21ft metal sculpture holds leaves on its branches along with tools to symbolise the fruit of the tree, this aims to reflect the area's mining history and pay tribute to the employees that worked in the nearby Hanley Deep Pit. The Pottery and steelmaking industry which was nearby is represented by the pots and the gear wheel. The Tree and ladder represent growth and development and the flowers hanging from the gear the National Garden Festival.

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