Hero Tree

Kids of homeless shelters and schools of Denver decided to prove that you can make a difference despite life conditions. They have started a “Hero Tree” mural to explore topic of heroism, to use art as a way of encouraging each other and to support kids that went through horror of earthquake in Haiti.

Hundreds of pieces from Denver, Haiti, Peru and Mexico are coming together to created the 8 by 10 feet mural that will hang in the Wellington Web building in Downtown Denver, and then be moved to the Denver City and County building.

Colorado Singing Tree Opening Ceremony

Sunday, April 25, 4-5 pm

Wellington Webb Building

201 West Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80202

The Hero Tree mural is part of Signing Tree forest – murals of inspiration created in other states of United States. This is the first one done in the state of Colorado. The mural will include three aspen trees to represent our state and the unity and community of children coming together to be inspired and inspire others. The world will represent regions involved in the project and will include faces from each region to celebrate diversity. The stars will have the names of children who died in the recent Haitian earthquake. Every individual leaf and star will be a miniature work of art done by one of the children. The theme “hero” is meant to inspire children to think about who is important in their lives and/or what that person represents that is meaningful to them.

Join Singing Tree Group on Facebook to see project pictures and updates or visit http://picasaweb.google.com/mariafeekes/HeroTreeDev?authkey=Gv1sRgCNKRib76tKGKFg&feat=directlink

Colorado Singing Tree News

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Colorado Singing Tree mural participants:

Elbert School, Elizabeth Elementary School, Kiowa School, Castlewood Christian, Mammoth Heights Elementary, Brandon Homeless Shelter, Lawrence Homeless Shelter, The Crossing of Denver Rescue Mission, Beth Appleton, Jennifer Skalecke, Rick Hunckler, Bruce Norman, Fetal Hope Foundation, Project Sanctuary, Conapac, Amazon Hope, Mission Haiti, Youth Front – Mexico, Croc (Mexico), Iquitos, San Luis, Santa Rosa, Indiana, Palmeras, Yanamono, Pucallpa, and Masan of Peru.

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More on Signing Tree project here: http://www.soulemporium.com/singingtrees.html

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Project powered by Department of Cultural Affairs of Denver (Public Art Division) and Tu Can Too, Inc

Tu Can Too is a Colorado non-profit that empowers children by illuminating their special value and unique importance through the arts and creative giving projects.

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Placement of mural – This is a very important aspect of the project. In order to make it most meaningful for participants, the placement of mural must be an inspiration and long giving on its own. We are excited to announce two first places of mural display: 1. Wellington Webb Building (April 25 – May 9) 2. Denver City & County (May10-30). The permanent place display will be announced shortly. Discussions are underway to use mural as a fundraiser for Haiti.

Wellington Webb Building

Denver City and County Building

Community building aspect – beyond using this project as support of Haiti, way for each participant to internalize ideas of heroism, giving, compassion, we also want to use the project as an opportunity for participants from different parts of the world to learn about each other. For that, each parts and participants of project will be videotaped and uploaded to youtube; project updates will be documented on facebook (thanks Laurie Marshall for starting Singing Tree Project group) & twitter. By the time you are done with this mural, you will know more about Colorado, Peru, Mexico, Haiti.

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History of Singing Tree project

In 1999, Laurie Marshall, made a mural with all the students at Hillsboro Elementary School (Virginia) called “The Challenge of Beauty”. When the project was completed, a second grader named Meredith said, “I wish the whole world could see our painting and then the whole world would be happy.”

Then she asked, “What if the whole world made a painting together?”

Laurie said, “I like that picture better than what we’re doing. Let’s do it, and let’s start with the children.”

THE WHOLE WORLD IS INVITED!

Since 1999, 11 trees were created with over 9000 participants. Tu Can Too is accepting the invitation. Would you like to join too?

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past trees:

Apple Tree, 8′ x 12′ Pittsburgh, PA	Cherry Singing Tree, 8′ x 12′ Helen S. Faison Elementary Arts Academy Pittsburgh, PA, 2005
Elm Singing Tree, 8′ x 16′ made by 1000 students in Rappahannock County, VA. This was the first Singing Tree.	The Ginkgo Singing Tree, 8′ x 12′, “What do you love on this earth?” led by art students at Mt. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh, PA, made by 800 young people from the U.S. Germany, Peru and Sierra Leone. 2002
The Linden Tree, 8′ x 12′, led by art students at Mt. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh, PA, 2002	The Maple Tree, 8′ x 12, led by art students at Peabody HIgh School, Pittsburgh, PA, 2002
The People Tree, 8′ x 8′, made by young people at an orphanage in Gujarat, India, under the guidance of Elektra Gorky	The Pine Tree, 4′ x 8′, made by 50 art students in Red River, Minnesota
The Tulip Singing Tree, 8′ x 12′, “How do you cope with pain without hurting your body or breaking the law?” led by art students at McKees Rocks High School, outside of Pittsburgh, PA, made by 800 people from Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Cuba, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, 2005	The Willow Singing Tree, 8′ x 12′, “Giving Thanks” made by 65 people, ages 5 to 15, Morgantown, W. VA, USA, sponsored by Art in the Parks, 2004.
The BIA Willow, 8′ x 8′, made by Marion Hansson, Curator of the BIA’s art collection, Sidney Bad Moccasin and five other BIA staff, Dianne Marshall, Lawren Giles and Laurie Marshall, honoring all 572 federally registered Native American tribes, in the permanent collection of the Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., 2005