““The Community Grafting Project-Science. Art. Social Experiment. Joy.” will be on view at Gallery 344, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, from Oct. 7, 2024, to Feb. 7, 2025. “ (quote from Cambridge Arts, Public Art )

The four walls of what had once seemed to me a small gallery created an expansive sense of life outdoors with lots to enjoy, discover, and create. The enticing exhibit inspired this sudden post to note the remaining window of opportunity to visit ( till February 7) and the valuable resources about the whole impressive ongoing project. Quotes and links below:

“.. Beloved Apple Tree Reborn Via Public Art Project Coming To Cambridge School : When a beloved apple tree was removed as part of the reconstruction of the City of Cambridge’s Tobin Montessori and Darby Vassall Upper Schools complex, cuttings from the tree were saved. A new exhibition at Cambridge Arts’ Gallery 344 shows how “The Community Grafting Project,” a public art project the city has commissioned from the architectural and design studio TSKPxIKD, is giving the original tree new life.” (quote from Cambridge Arts, Gallery 344)

“IKD (http://www.i-k-design.com) of Boston and San Francisco—led by Cambridge resident Yugon Kim and Tomomi Itakura—was chosen by the City of Cambridge to create this major outdoor public artwork, the “Community Grafting Project,” as part of the reconstruction of the educational and community hub at 197 Vassal Lane.” (quote from Cambridge Arts, What’s New, Tobin)

“The project is inspired by the apple tree—beloved for many years as a place to congregate, play and create memories—that was removed as part of the reconstruction of the school,” IKD said. “By using cuttings that were taken from the tree just before removal, the project seeks to literally regrow a new tree from the old tree, educating and engaging students through the collective process of nurturing the tree from infancy to adolescence to maturity.” (quote from Cambridge Arts, What’s New, Tobin)

“While the apple tree grows, it will be protected by interactive sculptures of curling beams for visitors to climb and sit on, made from pin oak trees also removed during the school construction.”(quote from Cambridge Arts, What’s New, Tobin)

“The project not only seeks to restore the gathering place that was lost when the apple tree was cut down, but to celebrate the community by expanding the role of the public in public art.” (quote from Cambridge Arts, Gallery 344)

“The $650,000 project is funded via the City’s Percent-for-Art Ordinance, which requires that 1 percent of the construction costs on municipal capital investment projects—in this case, the more than $200 million school—be designated for use in developing site-responsive public artwork. The public art commission for IKD includes design fee, engineering, fabrication, partner collaborations, installation, and community engagement. The project will be installed in the park and playground behind the school by 2025. Partnerships with the school community, local organizations and other members of the community will be central to the project.” (quote from Cambridge Arts, What’s New, Tobin)

KEY RESOURCES ( with photos, videos, and more background information)

Cambridge Arts, What’s New, Tobin: https://www.cambridgema.gov/arts/publicart/gallery344

Cambridge Arts, Gallery 344:https://www.cambridgema.gov/arts/publicart/gallery344

IKD Community Grafting Project: http://www.i-k-design.com/work/cultural-and-public-galleries/the-community-grafting-project/