Area artist Graeme Sheffield, of The Ironwood Anvil, will be designing, fabricating and installing the family tree donor recognition piece in the new Guelph Civic Museum.
The project is part of the museum’s capital campaign, which raised over $770,000.
Approximately 120 donors who contributed a minimum of $1,000 will have their name and date of arrival in Guelph inscribed on a leaf.
The tree will be located in the reception area and will be a unique reflection on the heritage of the community acknowledging long time and new residents.
The Ironwood Anvil is an award winning artisan blacksmith business, specializing in custom hand forged iron products for indoor and outdoor settings. With 25 years of metal working experience, Sheffield founded the company six years ago. He was pleased to work on a project recognizing donors as well as the founders and citizens of Guelph.
“Being able to use some of the same basic tools and techniques that have been used for centuries through the art of blacksmithing will give me the opportunity to manipulate the steel into forms that will give the tree sculpture some life-like qualities.
“I am happy to be able to take an otherwise cold, lifeless medium as steel and transform it into a lasting piece of art work that will feature enduring qualities and workmanship for current and future generations to enjoy.”
Construction of the new museum continues at the site of the former Loretto convent and the new Guelph Civic Museum will open to the public in late fall 2011.
