SUNSHINE ON THE FALLEN TREE
A beautiful and emotional sound and light sculpture that audience can walk in and around. Unique amongst light work this is made from locally sourced Ash trees felled due to Ash dieback, traditionally steam bent and set with beautiful sound and light technology.
Walk through its branches and be seated in the canopy, bath in its light as Eleanor Hooper and Kate Griffin’s thoughful sound composition takes you through movements of a requiem and sonic memories of the tree, inviting you to reflect on the decline of the Ash Tree and the energy and optimism we need to fill these spaces as we lose so many species to climate change.
The sculpture gains new resonnace in 2025/26 as many Ash trees themselves are seen to be fighting back, bringing hope and meaning to us and this work.
The sound composition was created by Eleanor Hooper and Kate Griffin the full track can be heard and if you like bought on bandcamp.
Sunshine On The Fallen Tree was commissioned for Wentworth Woodhouse’s Chapel for We Wonder Noir in Winter 21/22 and has toured extensively both indoors and outdoors since then. Find where it has been and will go here.
Sunshine on the Fallen Tree touring sound and light sculpture – Film By Jake Barrett JUNE 2023 at our local Walled Garden volunteers organisation.
Below is the sculpture in its very first iteration at the Chapel in Wentworth Woodhouse. Again filmed by Jake Barrett.
Sunshine on the Fallen Tree was commissioned by Wentworth Woodhouse & Reload in March 2022, the build was supported by Arts Council England Lottery Funding as part of Peter Gunson’s DYCP project.
The Build:
Concept : Eleanor Hooper & Pete Gunson
Composition: Eleanor Hooper and Kate Griffin
Sound and light tech: Vasthu Ltd
Materials: Andersons Tree Care
Design and build: Pete Gunson (Lead), build assist Annie Nelson and Roscoe Blevins
This installation was an idea we’ve been brewing for 3 years and taken our interactive sound and light tech collaboration with Vasthu to the next level.
The sound track is a beautiful 12 minute composition by Eleanor and Kate Griffin who have been working together on Eleanor’s DYCP and the sculpture was supported by Pete’s DYCP learning how to use steam bent Ash to make outdoor light work then manage and develop the tech.