Palmetto Tree Exchange
The Palmetto Tree project was the largest public art endeavor ever attempted in South Carolina. The genesis of the project came from advertising executive Marvin Chernoff, Chairman of Chernoff/Silver & Associates. After viewing the public cow sculptures while on a visit to Chicago, Chernoff believed South Carolina's State Tree would lend itself to even more creative expression. The Palmetto Tree project was then undertaken as a partnership between Chernoff/Silver & Associates, the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, the City of Columbia, and Lexington and Richland counties. The project was designed to promote diversity, generate worldwide attention and interest, and positively impact tourism. Eighty-seven steel Palmetto trees were decorated by local artists and displayed throughout the City of Columbia in the summer and fall of 2000. The Palmetto tree is the official state tree and is used in many of the official state emblems, such as the flag and the state seal.
Governor Hodges became interested in the Palmetto Tree Project in November 1999 after the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties promoted the concept to the Governor's Office. The exchange of the steel Palmetto trees was a symbolic way to solidify and promote the relationship between Queensland and South Carolina. South Carolina sent a painted steel Palmetto tree to Queensland along with a blank tree. UPS donated the shipment of the tree from South Carolina to Queensland and back.
The SC Palmetto which features South Carolina symbols such as the Capitol, the SC flag and the state seal was painted by SC artist Michael Thorstad. Once it arrived in Queensland, it was first displayed and dedicated in the Queensland foyer of the Executive Building which houses the Premier, the Deputy Premier and three central agencies of the Queensland Government. The dedication of the tree coincided with the 2000 delegation visit from South Carolina. The South Carolina tree is now on permanent display at Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane. The focus of the tree exchange is to increase awareness of the Sister-State relationship in both SC and Queensland.
The second steel Palmetto tree sent to Queensland was plain and unfinished. After receiving the unfinished tree, the Queensland government selected a local Aboriginal artist, Ms. Bibi Barba, to paint the tree. The completed tree decorated by the Queensland artist is on display next to the koala exhibit, the Koala Knockabout, at the Riverbanks Zoo to commemorate the Sister-State partnership. The two symbols, the koala and the Palmetto, are now in unique accompaniment of one another. The front left hand side represents the outback in Queensland and features emus and human figures. The right hand side represents the coast of Queensland and features birds, dolphins, turtles, and the mountains. The round pattern at the base of the crown symbolizes the meeting of the two governments. The trunk depicts the Brisbane River. For more information about the Palmetto Tree project, visit: http://www.getcultured.org/Palmetto_Tree.ASP
Palmetto Tree Project contact information
Ms. Tracy Jones
Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties
1728 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 799-3115 phone
(803) 252-2787 fax
tjones@cultural.columbiasc.com
Home | Background | School Programs | Koalas | Palmetto Trees
Student Exchange | Library | Delegations | MOU's | Joint Research | Economic Development
