#simon-orourke — Public Fediverse posts

When Trees Become Art (12 Photos)

Trees already have character. These artists add just enough to let trunks, branches, leaves, and roots become part of the artwork. From giant forest hands to murals that use real leaves as hair, these twelve works show artists working with nature, not around it. Sometimes the gallery is a sidewalk, a stump, or a patch of forest floor. There is an older word for marks carved into living trees: the National Park Service notes that they are called arborglyphs or dendroglyphs. These works are […]

https://streetartutopia.com/2026/05/17/12-time-trees-become-street-art/

Helping Hands (8 Photos)

Look down. Look up. Sometimes the city literally reaches out to grab you. We’re talking giant hands breaking through the concrete, wrapping around trees, or holding pure fire. Artists around the globe are obsessed with this shape. Why? Because hands don’t need words. They protect. They lift. They connect. These aren’t just quiet sculptures or flat paintings. These are massive urban takeovers that make you stop, stare, and feel something real. From tiny hidden stick figures to colossal […]

https://streetartutopia.com/2026/02/27/helping-hands-2/

When Trees Become Art (12 Photos)

12 photos of tree sculptures, murals and nature-inspired art, from Daniel Popper’s Ven a la Luz to a tree library and Jon Foreman’s leaf spiral.

https://streetartutopia.com/2026/09/20/trees-become-art-sculptures-and-murals/

From Tallest Tree to Towering Sculpture: The Giant Hand of the UK

The Douglas Fir known as the “Giant Hand of Vyrnwy” was once the tallest tree in the UK, standing over 50 meters high.

But as it grew older and weaker, it became unsafe. Instead of cutting it down completely, artist Simon O’Rourke turned what was left of the tree into a giant hand sculpture reaching for the sky.

“The Forestry Commission, who are looking after the area, decided that it would be a good idea to have a memorial to the tree and left a 50-foot stem when they felled it,” said O’Rourke. “They invited eight artists to tender for the job, and I got it.”

The sculpture is now part of a place called The Giants of Vyrnwy, which inspired O’Rourke’s idea. “There are a few tall Douglas firs growing in the Giants of Vyrnwy area, and I was going on the giants theme,” he explained.

O’Rourke, who has been carving wood for nine years, used 12 different chainsaws to make the sculpture. He has also carved other things, like a swan, an angel, a kingfisher, a chipmunk, and a giant clock.

In 2011, the tree was found leaning dangerously to one side. It also had two large cracks going up from its roots to about 3.5 meters high. To keep visitors safe, the Forestry Commission decided to cut it down. Before this, a tree expert had climbed it to confirm it was the tallest tree in the UK, ensuring its story would be remembered even after it was turned into art.

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