Fake forest hides in plain sight

Braking at the intersection of North Avenue and St. Paul Street, drivers breathe cigarette smoke out their windows, slosh takeout sodas, stare at their nails.

[Jamie Hunt]

"... Shull's idea for the project grew from an interest in what he calls "the synthetic forms of nature we take for granted," things such as AstroTurf and cell-phone towers that are designed to look like sweeping pines ..."

Cell towers like sweeping pines? Up here in New Hampshire, they look like piper cleaners. You can't _not_ notice them.

[Kate]

I love this installation! I saw it on my commute the other morning. I couldn't figure out if most of them were real or not - with the exception of the bright pink metallic tree.

I'd love to see this exhibit "live" there permanently!

[Todd]

Someone should place a gold chain linked fence around this exhibit. Then people will notice and realize they are taking synthetic trees for granted.

[AVC]

Todd beat me to it by 13 minutes...Put up a gold chain link fence around it for extra credit.

[John]

I noticed it on Sunday during my morning walk to church. My thought: I hope they hurry to take this down right after Art Scape closes!

[Nature Lover]

Now if they could figure out a way to get artificial people living in the city , all would be well..........

[Joe Johnson]

Get your facts strait Jill, that stupid gold chain link fence was up for several weeks prior to it coming down. The "artist" was hardly crying after all of the free publicity he got.

[pollirugger]

So if synthetic trees are "art" then I guess all astroturf football fields are "art" as well? Hack.

[Glenn Q]

Who is the woman on the front page pic tending to the fake tree? Nothing synthetic there! Giggity!

[Kevin from Jessup]

Glenn Q wrote:

Who is the woman on the front page pic tending to the fake tree? Nothing synthetic there! Giggity!

;)

[A Crank]

Glenn Q wrote:

Who is the woman on the front page pic tending to the fake tree? Nothing synthetic there! Giggity!

She could plant a fake tree in my yard anytime. Holla.

[kcmd]

anything associated with MICA is sure to be more of a nuisance than "art."

[ann]

This is a hoot. I love it. So much better than the gold fence. I got the concept of the fence but for some reason it just didn't work. These trees are great. How can people not notice?

[laura]

I'm fairly certain that the energy and resources expended to make (and transport) a fake Christmas overwhelm any perceived environmental benefits (IE. saving the real trees). As long as Christmas tree farms continually replace their crop, the real thing is a better, more environmentally friendly solution.

[Leap1]

Could we get some real trees planted there eventually? Most public art is atrocious or just bland. I appreciate that the city is trying to encourage art, but maybe we could go for things that are attractive instead of "interesting" or "thought provoking". Baltimore has plenty of things to provoke you already, how about something attractive to peacefully rest your eyes on?

[Laura]

I was wondering what that baby purple tree was doing there Saturday.... this is a great idea!

[AVC]

Laura wrote:

I was wondering what that baby purple tree was doing there Saturday.... this is a great idea!

...well...last year the blue tree and the red tree fell in love...