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YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING ABOUT SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL WOOD ART PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP AROUND TOWN LATELY.
THERE WAS A NEARLY 420 5-YEAR-OLD OAK TREE IN BOB WOODRUFF PARK SOUTH, KNOWN AS THE QUADRA CENTENNIAL OAK.
IN 2023, THE TREE GAVE IN TO OLD AGE AND STRONG WINDS.
AFTER IT FELL, THE CITY CALLED ON LOCAL ARTISTS TO FIND MEANINGFUL WAYS TO USE THE WOOD, SOMETHING THAT WOULD HONOR THE TREE'S.
LONG HISTORY OF STANDING WATCH OVER PLANO, TWO OF THE ARTISTS CHOSEN, TOOK THAT CHALLENGE TO HEART.
WHEN I HEARD THAT, UH, BOB WOODRUFF PARK HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTS TO APPLY FOR A PIECE OF THE, OF THE TREE, I, I SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY.
LARRY SOLOMON RECEIVED A LARGE SECTION OF THE TREE.
I LOVE CARVING OUT WOOD, PARTICULARLY WITH CHAINSAWS AND, UH, ANGLE GRINDERS.
UH, YOU KNOW, ANGLE GRINDER MAN'S BEST FRIEND.
AS A SCULPTOR, HE DECIDED TO CREATE A PIECE THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO ALL THE WILDLIFE THE TREE HAD SHELTERED AND FED OVER THE YEARS.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO CAPTURE HERE IS FOR 400 YEARS, ANIMALS HAVE BEEN SHELTERING UNDER THE STREET IN BOB WOODRUFF PARK.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO CAPTURE ARE THE ANIMALS OF BOB WOODRUFF PARK.
IN MY CARVING, HIS SCULPTURE WILL BE ON PERMANENT DISPLAY AT HAGGARD PARK IN DOWNTOWN PLANO.
THE WIND ONCE RUSTLED THROUGH ITS LEAVES LIKE MUSIC, AND NOW SOME OF THAT SAME WOOD IS BEING USED TO MAKE ANOTHER KIND OF MUSIC.
ERIC SMITH, A TEACHER AND GUITAR MAKER, ALSO PUT IN A BID TO USE THE WOOD, HIS GOAL TO BUILD GUITARS THAT CARRY ON THE TREE'S.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE PROJECT FOR, UH, THE, THE LIFE AND FUTURE LIFE OF THE, THE TREE ITSELF.
SO FAR, HE'S FINISHED TWO GUITARS WITH MORE TO COME.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I DO THIS FOR THE MONEY.
I DO IT BECAUSE THIS IS MY ART OUTLET.
YOU KNOW, I'M A CREATIVE PERSON AND, AND THIS IS MY ART.
THEY HAVE A RICH, BEAUTIFUL TONE.
THANKS TO ERIC, THE QUADRA CENTENNIAL OAK WILL KEEP MAKING MUSIC FOR YEARS TO COME.