Good Bye Blue Tree!

Good Bye Blue Tree Thank You!

What was once there...

Is now gone! 

In Conclusion

A  Summary

Inspiration in 2011. 

Located the tree in the fall of 2012.

Painted the tree in May of 2013 with the assistance of John’s Tree Service’s bucket truck.

Enjoyed the tree throughout the different seasons, weather and light. Took many photos.

Carol Nichols - artist, Mother Nature - great collaborator.

The Blue Tree fell down, completely uprooted, washed by Swan Creek, July 2015.

I knew it would happen. I’m so glad it stayed up for so long.

It was about connections: bringing the blue sky down, honoring death as a part of life, here and then gone, change, nature. 

My goal was to surprise, inspire questions and to offer a beautiful, fleeting, alteration to the landscape. 

I loved it and am so grateful to Duke Wheeler, on whose property the tree was, to Larry Nichols who said “go for it” from the start, for friends who were happy for me and for strangers who exclaimed “awesome”! 

The photos live on - and will continue to bring me great pleasure. I was thrilled to exhibit  photographs at the Toledo Museum of Art in the Community Gallery and at the American Gallery in Sylvania, OH. 

I’ve lots of ideas, inspirations to follow up on... and who knows - maybe this was my “first blue tree”. It’s all an adventure. Stay tuned. Thank you!

There Once Was a Blue Tree

The Blue Tree is Down.

The closest neighbors noted it was down on Saturday (July 18, 2015) and were so nice to let me know. 

I knew this day would come. 

Still. 

What a great adventure this has been! I am so grateful for the Blue Tree. I will miss it. But it's kind of exciting too!

This work of art in the landscape was temporal by design. It's time in the landscape was limited naturally. What lasts forever? There is an Eternal and We want to Connect with IT. The Blue Tree highlighted the Connection between here and now, been here and gone, life and death, heaven and earth, the blue sky and earth, the Eternal and Earth.

Thank you.

Carol L. Nichols

Artist and Grateful Soul

This is what I found when I came around the bend.

It was water that brought the tree down, not wind.
You can see here the part I wasn't able to reach when I was staining it.
It used to be just a reflection in the water... now it is in the water!

Earth Blue Tree: You Can't Get There From Here...

Saturday, June 27 was a "curious" day. Hard rain all day. 4" total. One for the records. Off the charts. I went to visit the Blue Tree on Sunday, June 28 and found a number of felled trees along the way, detour after detour. The Blue Tree was standing but half of the field was underwater! Can't get there from here... at least not without a boat! June was great! Enjoy July! Row, row, row the boat...

Earth Blue Tree: Red, White and Blue

One of the best parts about taking monthly photos is the opportunity to really notice the seasons, the changes, and the cyclical nature of life around us. Spring has been spectacularly beautiful this year, as it is every year if we just look.

I took these photos on Memorial Day which is the start of summer flag flying season. The Blue Tree honors what is gone, what we remember and honor and so the connection with Memorial Day. Thank you to those who have served. For the gift of Freedom, Life, Art and Nature.

I love the abstract nature of this pic.
Check out the cracks.
 I don't think the Blue Tree will be standing next May...

Earth Blue Tree: April's Promise!

If you have any doubts... check March's photos and compare!!

This fresh water clam was spotted in the creek! I'm not sure you can get the scale; this creature was about 4" long and look at that trail!  Life is truly wonderful. Miracles are all around us! Enjoy!

I am feeling so blessed to have the opportunity to go out into nature regularly, just look around, listen and be quiet. Nature heals. Go outside, look up and down, breathe deeply and rejoice! Spring! Alleluia!

Earth Blue Tree: Time Marches On!

Mud Season never looked so pretty before! The fields are clear of snow - we thought that may never happen again. Some days are warm with bright blue sky and some days are cold with random snow flurries!

If you look very closely in the trees you will see a touch of red that hasn't been there yet this year. The creek is quite high and you can hear the geese flying by. These are sure signs of things to come! The changes, i.e. SPRING, will surely come quickly now! Enjoy!

Earth Blue Tree: In the Deep

We have had deep snow and deep, deep cold. We are up to our necks in deep winter. I put on my long underwear, turtleneck sweater, "Michelan Man" snow pants,  down coat, hat, mittens... you get the picture, and walked out into the snowy field. It was hard, crunchy and crusty, with few signs of life; tracks in the snow and the occasional remains of a corn cob meal for some little critter. Thank God for blue skies, one blue tree and the ability to dress properly. Enjoy the peace of the moment.