Tree Spirit
Location - Alvaston By-Pass, at Coronation Plantation Artist - Andrew Frost
This month's public artwork stands just outside of the City boundary, next to the Alvaston by-pass, and at the edge of Coronation Plantation which forms part of Elvaston Castle Country Park.
It is one of a number of works by wood sculptor Andrew Frost, commissioned by the Highways Agency 
as part of the by-pass scheme. It was installed at the end of May.
Perhaps the best way to see Tree Spirit is by bicycle - the by-pass's cycle lane passes right by the sculpture.
Andrew is based in Wirksworth. He explains that he 'creates organic sculpture using chainsaws'. The wood for Tree Spirit and the other works came from trees removed to make way for the road. 'They provide a legacy', he says, 'reminding us that trees once existed where the road now runs'. The Highways Agency have described this aspect as an expression of their commitment to recycling.
The artwork relates well to Coronation Plantation - a guardian of the woodland, perhaps, protecting it from further encroachment.
Being made from wood, Tree Spirit is an unusual piece of public art in the Derby area. In fact, as Andrew points out, it is an unusual material for public sculpture in towns and cities, even at their edges.
'Although it is itself a hard material, the organic nature of the wood contrasts with the hard and engineered nature of the bridges and the road and the cars which run on it', Andrew says. Tree Spirit touches on the continuing and essential presence of nature, and the need to properly acknowledge nature in the balance when development work is carried out.
Photographs of Andrew at work can be seen on his website.
The Derby Public Art Strategy sets the scene for future public artworks in the city.
For further information please contact the Built Environment Team:
Telephone 01332 255060 Minicom 01332 256666 Fax 01332 255989 e-mail urban.design@derby.gov.uk
