Yume Tree

Yume Tree Dedicated to Laurie Siegel on Its Tenth Anniversary

by Larry Janezich

The Yume Tree on the north wall of the CVS at 12th and E Streets, SE, turned ten last week. Yesterday, the Corner Store – Kris Swanson’s and Roy Mustelier’s non-profit community art studio and performance space at 9th and South Carolina Avenue, SE – hosted an anniversary party to dedicate the community wall sculpture to Laurie Siegel.

Kris Swanson, who conceived of the Yume Tree, spoke movingly of fused glass artist and award winning Watkins School art teacher Siegel – who succumbed to cancer in July – as one of her strongest allies in the project. Swanson recounted the story of how she was inspired to begin the work and how the tree came into being, crediting many in the community who played critical roles in overcoming obstacles to make it a reality.

Swanson was preceded by Councilmember Tommy Wells who praised the interactive quality of the sculpture and remembered his participation as a DC School Board Member with Swanson and Siegel in the original dedication ceremony ten years ago.

The Yume (you/me) Tree is a neighborhood art project involving more than a thousand children, hundreds of Capitol Hill neighbors, and several elementary schools. The 28 by 14 foot mosaic of tiles and cut mirror reflects the sky, garden and trees of Watkins Elementary school across the street. The three inch tiles making up the trunk, roots, and branches of the tree were made and signed by school children. Siegel helped Swanson develop Yume Tree and fired and glazed hundreds of the first clay tiles. Messages to the community and commemorative tiles from donors form the landscape out of which the tree emerges. Swanson points to it as an example of how the power of collective action can transform and beautify a neighborhood. The work is an ongoing process and continues to grow and evolve on a regular basis as new name and sponsorship tiles are added.

Music for the dedication was provided by the “21 Gessford Court Players,” led by David Weiner. The group played Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” in memory of Siegel. Weiner, calling Dylan “the poet who spoke for our generation,” said that the lyrics could have been spoken by Siegel.

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth