The Willow Glen Resident

Tree of Life receives a formal welcome to WG

Music and art mark sculpture's dedication in Wallenberg Park

By Cecily Barnes

After a nearly five-year wait, artist Susan Beran's Tree of Life sculpture will be dedicated in Wallenberg Park, where it was erected two months ago. In honor of the dedication, the Willow Glen Beautification Project has arranged an afternoon of live music and a visit from District 6 Councilmember Frank Fiscalini on Sunday, April 26.

People are encouraged to bring blankets and pack food. Music and Art in the Park runs from 5 to 7 p.m. in the park at Curtner and Cottle avenues.

"It's a picnic-in-the-park sort of thing for families, neighbors and residents of Willow Glen," said Marvin Bamburg, treasurer of the Willow Glen Beautification Project. "There will be a formal proceeding where we'll have a public address system."

The dedication would have happened sooner, Bamburg says, but El Niño forced the group to wait for a sunny day.

"We're trying to make a small event out of it, and we didn't want to do anything in the rain," said Dot Cohen, chairwoman of the beautification project. "Hopefully, we're still going to avoid the rain. We're trying to make it a family afternoon in the park."

Beran's work is the latest of five sculptures installed and commissioned by the beautification project. It cost the organization $13,000. Others commissioned by the project decorate Willow Street park, Bramhall Park and Lincoln Avenue.

The Willow Glen Beautification Project was spawned in 1992 from a $7,000 Art in Community Places grant from the city of San Jose. Willow Glen resident Jim Combs spotted the grant and solicited support from others in the community, including past Willow Glen Business and Professional Association board member Cherie Rose, who was instrumental in kick-starting the process of applying for the grant and forming the organization.

In 1993, the organization set up a commission which selected three sculptures to place in parks around Willow Glen--the other two were placed in Willow Street and Bramhall parks, and Beran's was the third in line.

The project continues to add to its initial $7,000 grant with private donations and revenue from fundraising. Over the years they've raised more than $45,000, Bamburg said. The nonprofit group meets monthly to discuss ways to increase the beauty in Willow Glen. Currently, they're working on erecting historic kiosks on Lincoln Avenue and applying for a new grant.

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