The Main Library is now displaying Urban Fruit Tree by Jean Wells in the front garden at 145 Washington Avenue. This new piece is part of the City of Santa Fe's Art on Loan Program. The tree is about 16 feet tall and 11 feet wide, depending on what is affixed to the branches.
Colorful as the whimsical Urban Fruit sculpture on loan by the Art in Public Places is, it is most disturbing that it is very likely that every adult and child will quickly and accurately recognize and name the food products on the tree. In a recent Jamie Oliver television series, The Food Revolution, on the bad eating habits of Americans, second grade children did not recognize fresh grown potatoes, pears, tomatoes and other everyday fruits and vegetables. But they did recognize them once they were cooked and processed or deep fat fried. Even kindergarteners could name tater tots, French fries, tacos, burgers and pizza.
Maybe parents could use this art sculpture to play a game with their kids — name a fruit to replace every glittering urban “fruit” on the sculpture. The result might surprise them.
By PCH @Main
Photos by AM @Main
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