ROOTS

This is the ROOTS sculpture created by STEVE TOBIN in 2005, cast bronze, approximately 20'h x 18'w. The sculpture is located at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway at Trinity Church in downtown Manhattan. The piece was created from the roots of the historic sycamore tree that saved St. Paul's Chapel
 and churchyard from falling debris from the attack on the World Trade Center across the street from the Church on September 11, 2001. St. Paul’s Chapel became the venue of an eight-month ministry to Ground Zero after the attack on 9/11. The chapel opened its doors to firemen, policemen and volunteers, providing meals, a place to sleep and a place to reflect following the WTC attack. After carefully removing the artifact from the churchyard with the help of several of his studio assistants, Tobin is having it transported on a flatbed truck to his studio, where he will carry out the laborious process of creating the sculpture. When the sculpture is completed within the next several months, Tobin will present both the original artifact and the work of art to the church, where it will be exhibited. Tobin will work with tree experts and church officials to preserve the original artifact, which will survive intact after the artist removes the mold material that will be applied to turn it into a bronze sculpture.

“Shortly after the events of 9/11, I saw the incredibly moving, inspiring story of how the sycamore tree fell upon impact from the fallen towers and protected the historic churchyard from damage,” said Tobin. “All that is now left of the tree is the stump and the roots, which fit into the language of my expression. The terrorists knocked down the buildings and uncovered the strength of our humanity in the roots of New York City, the United States and the world. We are all connected in the roots. I feel that this memorial recognizing the uplifting response to the disaster will be the most important sculpture of my career, and I am honored to be given this opportunity by my friends at Trinity Church.”