Silver Oak Memory Tree by Philip Melling, has just been installed at Shooting Star House children’s hospice in Hampton.
The tree was commissioned for the hospice’s memory garden, and will have stars added to it over the coming years which will be engraved with childrens’ names who have been so sadly lost.
Philip said “Making the Memory Tree for Shooting Star House was both challenging and very rewarding. As an artist I always want my sculptures to mean something to people – but to create something like this, and know just how much it will mean to the families who use it to hold memories of their loved ones is a very special thing. I am very proud of the tree as a sculpture and thrilled to have been able to make it for the hospice.”
Silver Oak is made from galvanized and painted steel, and has over a hundred acorns made from healing crystal spheres added to it’s branches. These allow parents to place their childrem’s stars next to crystals they feel represent their loved ones, or crystals with qualities that will help with their grieving.
All the steel materials were supplied by F H Brundle, including the forged leaves. Philip said “I tried a number of different leaves from F H Brundle which i used to make sample branches, but the oak leaves were perfect for the artwork”
See how the tree was made on Philip’s Instagram here – https://www.instagram.com/philip_melling_sculpture/
See more of Philip’s work on his website here – http://www.philipmelling.co.uk
