John Grade: Middle Fork

John Grade’s large-scale sculpture, Middle Fork, echoes the contours of a 140-year-old western hemlock tree located in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle.

Beginning by making a full plaster cast of the living tree, the artist and a cadre of volunteers used this mold to recreate the tree’s form out of thousands of pieces of reclaimed old-growth cedar. Middle Fork was conceived and fabricated at MadArt Studio and made its Seattle debut there in January 2015. The original work was 40-feet long and will more than double in length for its installation in the Brotman Forum.

About the Artist
Grade’s work is exhibited internationally in museums, galleries, and outdoors in urban spaces and nature. His projects are designed to change over time and often involve collaboration with large groups of people. He lives and works in Seattle.

Special funding for this installation was provided by
The Gurvich Family, in honor of Max and Helen Gurvich

Lead Sponsors
Weyerhaeuser
Grace A. Arnold and Lauren Arnold Gorter, in honor of Robert M. Arnold
Alison and Glen Milliman

Major Sponsor
The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation

Image: Middle Fork, 2014–2017, John Grade, American, B. 1970, cedar, 105 ft. long x 30 ft. diameter, Seattle Art Museum commission, Photo: Ben Benschneider.