Metaphor: The Tree of Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Metaphor: The Tree of Utah |
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| Artist | Karl Momen |
| Year | 1986 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | concrete |
| Dimensions | 27 m (87 ft) |
| Location | Bonneville Salt Flats between Arinosa and Barro |
| Owner | State of Utah |
Metaphor: The Tree of Utah, also known as the Tree of Life, is a huge sculpture. It stands 87-foot-tall (27 m) in the middle of the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah. A Swedish artist named Karl Momen created it in the 1980s. It was officially opened in 1986. You can find it next to Interstate 80, about 25 miles (40 km) east of Wendover.
This amazing sculpture is mostly made of concrete. It looks like a square tree trunk holding up six large balls. These balls are covered with natural rocks and minerals from Utah. There are also some broken sphere pieces on the ground around the base. A fence now surrounds the sculpture to keep people safe from falling pieces.
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The Tree of Utah: A Desert Masterpiece
What is the Tree of Utah?
The Tree of Utah is a very unique piece of art. It stands tall in a very empty part of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The sculpture's main part is a thick, square-shaped trunk. This trunk supports six large, round spheres.
These spheres are special because they are covered with rocks and minerals. All these materials come from the state of Utah. You can also see parts of hollow spheres scattered on the ground. They are placed around the bottom of the sculpture.
The Artist's Vision
The artist, Karl Momen, is from Sweden. He created this giant tree sculpture. People say he had a vision of a tree while driving through the lonely Bonneville Salt Flats. This vision inspired him to build the 87-foot-tall (27 m) tree.
A special plaque is placed at the sculpture's base. It has words from a famous poem called Ode to Joy. This poem was written by Friedrich Schiller. The words from this poem are also used in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
A Gift to Utah
After finishing the Tree of Utah, Karl Momen gave the sculpture to the State of Utah. Then, he went back to his home in Sweden. Years later, in 2011, Momen suggested a new idea. He wanted to build a visitors center right at the sculpture's location.
He hoped that donations would help pay for the building costs. This center would allow more people to learn about the sculpture. It would also give them a place to stop and enjoy the unique art in the desert.
