Daily Archives: August 5, 2022

Through January 1, 2023 – Konstantin Dimopoulos: The Blue Trees

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Konstantin Dimopoulos’ The Blue Trees installation is an environmental call to action. Using a biologically-safe watercolor and a team of community volunteers, the artist temporarily transforms a selection of trees on the Peabody Essex Museum’s campus to focus our attention on the growing issue of deforestation and other threats to trees around the globe. The harmless blue colorant will wash away over time, and the trees will gradually return to their natural state.

Why blue? Dimopoulos chose this color because blue trees do not exist in nature. By doing so, he compels us to take notice of these otherworldly trees and prompts a larger conversation about the role of trees in our local environment and elsewhere on the planet — where rampant deforestation is a significant contributor to climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

The installation on PEM’s campus is the 27th international Blue Trees installation by Dimopoulos and the first one in the Greater Boston area. The Blue Trees take their place in a long line of public works by this award-winning artist, all with a strong social conscience that span a wide array of media and concerns.

Konstantin Dimopoulos: The Blue Trees is presented as part of PEM’s Climate + Environment Initiative and is made possible by the generosity of Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation. Additional support was provided by The Creighton Family, Appy and Susan Chandler and Peter and Sandra Lawrence. Thank you to those individuals who support the Exhibition Incubation Fund: Jennifer and Andrew Borggaard, James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes, Kate and Ford O’Neil, and Henry and Callie Brauer. We also recognize the generosity of the East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum

For more information on hours and admission, visit www.pem.org.

Friday, August 12, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Oaks and Hickories Tour

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Join Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Keeper of the Living Collections Michael Dosmann on August 12 at 1 pm on a stroll through the Arboretum’s nut collections, particularly the oaks and the hickories. Learn about some historical collections, recent acquisitions from expeditions, and other fun facets of their natural history.

This tour is limited to 25 participants. We ask that you only register if you are sure you will attend, and only register one person per form submission.

Please meet at the Centre Street Gate. Street parking is available outside most entrance gates, along the Arborway, Bussey Street, and the Arboretum perimeter. There is no visitor parking inside the Arboretum. The Arboretum is easily reached by public transportation. Take the 38 bus to the Centre Street and Westchester Road stop or take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and walk north along the Arborway to reach the Arboretum.

In the event of inclement weather, registrants will be notified. For more information, please call (617) 384-5209. Free. Sign up HERE.