Museum Tree (Night)

Visitors come upon a curious place, a whimsical take on a museum. The Museum Tree seems to be pure folly. The guests encounter the neon encircling the tree's trunk with glowing blue at the higher level (55") and a violet ring placed 15" beneath that. It signifies the depth of sea level rise expected in 2100. Three neon-lit acrylic frames and 5 vitrines fill the space above the trunk as they hang from the Live Oak's boughs. The frames cast an alarming orange glow. The undaunted visitor is intrigued, perhaps thinking further about the mission of museums in general, but more specifically is asked to consider the precept that museums preserve the vestiges of our culture. While encouraging reminiscences from childhood, the Museum Tree invites the realization that our regional museums feel the threat of sea level rise too.