Transformer’s Asbury Park, NJ based Siren Arts program presents the wishing tree - a community performance art piece inspired by Yoko Ono‘s WISH TREE & wish trees found in different cultures around the globe.

Presented throughout the month of December, the wishing tree at Siren Arts launches Saturday 12/7, with a community ‘wish’ reception 12-6pm. This free to participate, interactive community performance art project will run through 12/28, with ‘open house’ community wish-making every Saturday 12-6pm. Everyone & anyone is welcome to come in and write or draw their wish & add it to the tree! All materials are provided.

Why trees? Trees are a universal symbol of hope, life, and resilience. They can establish in mountainside crags with minimal soil or moisture, they can grow to hundreds of feet from humble seeds, and with their crowns in the heavens and roots beneath the earth, they remind us of the balance needed between our spiritual and physical lives.

In ancient times – and in places unconnected by land, language, or culture – the concept of wishing trees emerged. Wish Trees are created by writing, drawing, or otherwise communicating one's wishes, hopes, and dreams onto ribbons, notes, or other symbolic items and attaching those offerings to trees in hopes of one’s longings coming true.

In some parts of the world, wish trees are called May Bushes, as they appear on and around May Day (May 1st), as a way to pay homage to the exuberance of earth and celebrate its rebirth as the weather warms and life flourishes. In 17th century Scotland, the practice took the form of hammering coins into the trunks of hawthorn trees after making a wish. A similar tradition can be found in Turkey, while in Hong Kong wishes were tied to oranges that were cast into the canopy of trees. In North America, Native American tribes like the Lakota and Seminole hung colored prayer ties from a tree during the Sun Dance ceremony, with each color representing a different theme.

The practice of manifesting wishes using trees continues to this day, sometimes in traditional ways, but other times taking new forms. In 1996, Yoko Ono, experimental artist and wife of the late musician John Lennon, set up a project called the WISH TREE. Her inspiration for the project was the wishing trees she saw at temples in Japan, where she grew up.

In addition to trees being a universal symbol of life, strength, wisdom, and longevity, many people throughout the years have believed trees to possess magical and spiritual properties, while others have honored them simply for the wonderful earth-heroes they are. Above all, trees know how to adapt to this world, and survive, all the while making everything near them flourish.

The wishing tree at Siren Arts is a 7-8' live Norway Spruce. Community wishes will be written or drawn with organic & non-toxic colored pencils on craft seed paper & tied to the tree with jute twine - both fully biodegradable; they can be soaked & planted along with the tree.

Following the conclusion of the wishing tree at Siren Arts, the Asbury Park Shade Tree Commission will receive the tree as a donation, planting it & the wishes cast by the community for all to enjoy, hopefully for generations to come. Stay tuned for details of the tree & wishes planting at the upcoming, new ‘wish garden’ located at the current boat launch garden on 7th Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ.

the wishing tree title wall at Siren Arts has been painted by area Artist Jenny DiZefalo.

half my father, half my mother, one third of my siblings

An cyanotype installation
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