Pennsylvania-based artist Steve Tobin, above, supervised the removal of a treasured sycamore tree stump and root system from St. Paul’s Chapel last week. The chapel is across the street from the World Trade Center and on Sept. 11, 2001, the tree bore the brunt from the Twin Tower debris, perhaps saving the landmark churchyard from further damage. Tobin is now working on a bronze sculpture memorial based on the stump and roots’ shape. He plans to return to St. Paul’s with the sculpture and a preserved tree artifact sometime after the next few months. Last year, the St. Paul’s/Trinity Church parish replaced the sycamore with a Tree of Hope, a Norway spruce. Tobin said in a statement: “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.”
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