





Client: Public Art for Public Schools: PS14x
Location: New York, NY, United States
Completion date: 2018
Artwork budget: $50,000
Project Team
Artist
Sandy Litchfield
Industry Resource
Franz Mayer of Munich
Architect
Kliment Halsband Architects
Public Art Agent
New York City School Construction Authority
Overview
“The Tree Inside Me” is a mosaic mural installed in the lobby of an elementary school in the Bronx. Made with a mix of hand cut glass smalti, purred venetian glass, ceramic tile and painted aluminum composite, this piece measures 28 feet tall. The images of snowflakes, leaves, trees, birds, buildings, butterflies and flowers celebrate growth and regeneration in the urban landscape.
Goals
Commissioned for the new school entrance, this project incorporates the colors of the seasons as it represents an urban garden oasis– a sheltering haven for children to learn and grow. The large open wall is integrated into the design along with the existing blue and white tiles, signifying winter. As the image moves up the wall the colors of spring, summer and fall reinforce the architectural design motif of the new addition for PS14X.
Process
For the fabrication of this piece, Litchfield consulted and collaborated with Franz Mayer of Munich. The lower portion of the mural (which includes a touchable textures of tile and mosaic) was fabricated by the Mayer Studios. The upper portion (which consists of hand cut and painted aluminum composite panels) was fabricated by the artist. The distinctive materials are integrated together in a collage-like fashion.
Additional Information
The title of the work is taken from a poem written by Rainer Maria Rilke: …Silently the birds Fly through us. O, I who long to grow, I look outside myself, and the tree inside me grows.