Bing tracking

Artist Tom Peter Gives Augsburg Elms New Life

Campus quadIn early August, two of the three remaining elm trees in Augsburg’s quad were removed in an effort to save the third tree from Dutch Elm disease. Tom Peter, a local certified arborist and wood-turning artist, reserved some of the wood to be transformed into pieces of art available to alumni and friends of the College.

"First Fruits Vessel" - a donation to the College by the artist Tom Peter.
“First Fruits Vessel” – a donation to the College by the artist Tom Peter.

Peter takes pride in giving an ever-lasting voice to the trees, and is honored to have been chosen for the project. He has made a gift to the College of a vessel, inset with a medallion (at left). His work carries the history of the trees’ beautiful past and can be seen for decades to come. This piece and others will be available for viewing at the Taste Of Augsburg in Murphy Park on Saturday, October 10.

Branch art_PeterThe elms created wonderful character of space in the quad for decades, and have helped inspire our longer-term visioning of the central campus as a larger green space that, over time, becomes an even more significant component of campus life.

To learn more about Augsburg’s urban arboretum and how you may own a wood-turned creation from the elm trees, please contact Amanda Storm Schuster, Director of Leadership Gifts at 612-330-1098 or schustea@augsburg.edu.

Planting Seeds for an Urban Arboretum • October 14

Campus quadAre you curious how the Hagfors Center for Science, Business and Religion will impact campus green space? Do you have questions or ideas for how Augsburg could maximize our green space in our urban neighborhood? Do you really love trees? Join us October 14th for a special chapel service featuring Professor Larry Crockett who will share insights and philosophies related to stewarding green space.

Following chapel, join us from 11am-12pm in Oren Gateway Center Room 100 for a panel with Q&A moderated by Regent Matt Entenza. The panel will feature partners helping in planning Augsburg’s campus transformation into an Urban Arboretum. Learn how we will maximize green space to improve experiences for students, faculty, staff, and our neighbors!

Panelists include:
Tom Oslund Principal, Oslund & Associates, Landscape Architect
Dale Pederson ’70, Associate Professor, Biology
Ralph Sievert, Director of Forestry & Certified Arborist, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Augsburg College.