The Willow Glen Resident

Artist seeks children who contributed to sculpture

By Rebecca Wallace

Artist Susan Pascal Beran, who created the Tree of Life sculpture in Wallenberg Park, says she's excited about the upcoming dedication of her work at Music and Art in the Park on April 26--but she can't take all the credit.

And she doesn't want to. Beran is asking all the children whose drawings she included in her sculpture by enameling them on to come to the dedication. And because many of them did not sign their drawings, she wants to get all of their names.

"A few years ago I started [the Tree of Life] and wanted to make this a community art piece, so I went around to the schools and talked to children about the tree of life," Beran said. "I said it meant what was important to them."

The schools included Booksin and Willow Glen elementary schools, and the drawings were incredibly diverse, ranging from a boy's depiction of a San Jose Shark to a Laotian girl's picture of the boat she was rescued in.

"It's just a marvelous time capsule for things that were important to them," said Beran, who says her sculpture is "about the connectedness of all living things and all dreams."

Beran said that representatives from the San Jose Museum of Art had expressed interest in doing an exhibit of the children's original drawings--all the more reason for her to get their names. "My medium was the community here," she said.

The Tree of Life is the third of five sculptures installed and commissioned by the Willow Glen Beautification Project. Music and Art in the Park will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the park at Curtner and Cottle avenues. People are encouraged to pack food and bring blankets.

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