Tree Stories: Sculptures by Jack Elliott
Tree Stories: Sculptures by Jack Elliott explores relations between trees, people, and our shared biophysical environment. These “Arborworks” come from trees that have been naturally harvested or have been removed because of disease or construction, including many here on Cornell’s campus. The sculptures often refer to an environmental issue, such as climate change or the depreciation of nature, but their primary purpose is to move the viewer. Jack Elliott works to expose the hidden beauty of these pieces, through strategic cuts and careful positionings. Every project is different but they are all characterized by juxtapositions of the geometric and the organic; the intentional and the spontaneous; the light and the dark. Balance and posture have been constant qualities of the works, often referencing some aspect of the decline in the biophysical environment.
The exhibit is hosted by Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. It is free and open to all Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm in the newly opened Atkinson Hall. You will find one piece at outside Atkinson Hall’s main entrance on Tower Road, and five additional pieces within the lobby on the building’s first floor.
About the Artist
Jack Elliott is an associate professor of Human Centered Design Cornell where he teaches studios on design and conducts research on environmental issues in the built environment. He has exhibited pieces at the Johnson Museum of Art and was awarded a 2015 Atkinson Center for Sustainable Futures Residency Fellowship at Cornell.
Jack Elliott is from Alberta, Canada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics with a minor in sculpture at the University of Alberta, as well as two master’s degrees, one in architecture and one in product design from the University of Calgary. After several years working in the private sector, Jack began his academic career at Georgia Tech in Atlanta before being recruited to join the faculty at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. Throughout his academic career, he has used the designed object or building, situated in a real-world context, to stimulate discourse, pull technology, and create impactful interventions.
Opportunity for Philanthropy
We are honored to display these remarkable works on loan from the artist for this special celebration of Cornell Atkinson. With the generous support of philanthropy, there is an opportunity for these pieces to become a permanent part of Atkinson Hall, enriching our space and inspiring all who pass through it. If you have interest in making arrangements for one or more of these pieces to remain in Atkinson Hall, please contact Leah Tuck, Director of Development at [email protected].
