The Story

In 2018 a group of sculptors and a small-town community
came together to create the first Firetree Celebration.

SculptureFest & Firetree-2018-Steve Groves Photo Blog

Introduction
Firetree - Six years in the making.
Starting from the initial design phase, Duncan MacDiarmid filled his sketch books with pages devoted to design ideas and fabrication techniques. The project developed organically, evolving into an artwork that now includes the investment of energy and creativity from many artisans and artists. Each individual has added their voice to an experience that aims to connect visitors to our extraordinary planet and the power we hold as its citizens to chart a path towards a strong planet future on Earth.

Chapter 1

In the fall of 2017, Saige Baxter and Duncan MacDiarmid began discussing over coffee how they might design a reusable, steel sculpture that could hold fire. Saige would be the welder and Duncan would manage other aspects of construction.

Initial Design Concept

The initial design was submitted for a local grant to help finance what is now a 24-foot-tall sculpture.
The submission became a finalist in the grant selection process, but was not chosen.

Chapter 2

With no funding, the artists turned toward a crowd funding platform (ioby, in our backyards) to help raise capital and awareness for their project.
Firetree grew to become a community of artists, friends, family, and new acquaintances, including partnerships with businesses, local government, and organizations.

early Funding Video

2018 Poster by John Ritter

Final Design Concept - Scale Model: 1 inch = 1 foot

A new version of the Firetree was designed with a wooden cart sheathed in protective metal. It had a steel trunk and branches with polished stainless steel leaves. Copper cradles were used to give the branches visual volume.

Chapter 3

Saige was offered an exciting residency off the coast of Portugal, so she traveled abroad as Duncan began building the Firetree cart outside his home on a hillside overlooking the Allegheny River.

Local article highlights the Firetree at the Society of Sculptors' sculpture festival.

Cart Construction

Chapter 4

Working directly from his small model for measurements and positioning, Duncan began building the branches of the tree. Dusting off an old, stick welder that he had purchased 20 years earlier for $50. Not knowing how to weld, he asked a fellow sculptor to give him a tutorial. That instruction was enough to start the steel tree fabrication. A local metal worker let him use his shop for ordering materials, cutting the steel pipe, and made the difficult welds for the steel collar at the top of the trunk.