Leaf

In 2004, artist Ed Carpenter described his sculpture created for the federal courthouse in Seattle:

"In the Pacific Northwest, Alder trees are the first to emerge after a landslide, forest fire, or clearcut.  They help resist erosion, nitrogenate the soil, and provide shade for the slower growing conifers, playing a central role in the renewal and regeneration of the forest.  My sculpture thus uses the Alder leaf as a symbol of renewal.  In this context, it may apply equally to the biological or the personal.  

"Architecturally, the leaf's form fits well within the unusually tall and narrow atrium space, helping mediate its height, and offering an intriguing spatial filigree of colorful views from every level.  I used the network of cables tying the leaf to the building's walls not only for structural reasons, but also to convey graphically the inter-connectedness of the various departments of the courts system.   

"At times of day when the sun aligns with the skylight, its rays fall on the sculpture and are projected and reflected around the atrium by the dichroic glass elements emanating from the leaf, suggesting the regenerative process of photosynthesis. The slowly moving patterns of color that are cast on the walls and floor enliven the atrium."