IIW 2023 Welded Art Book

The leaves (approx. 3500) and twigs were welded using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) with stainless steel and silicon bronze rods. There are approximately 2000 stainless steel leaves and 1200 copper leaves. There are also leaves of bronze, silver, titanium, aluminium, chain Damascus steel, silver and glass; all with various degrees of difficulty in joining, and the most delicate leaves requiring the skills of a volunteer jeweller. Dimensions: 3 tonne (2 tonne solid stainless steel trunk, 1 tonne canopy) 10 m high, 6 m diameter canopy. nSustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems:n The area in which the Blacksmiths’ Tree was installed had been hit by the 2009 fires leaving skeletal trees and the ground in dust. In the first years following the fires weeds started to take over the space and black wattle replaced many of the gumtrees. Since the Blacksmiths’ Tree was installed, volunteers, local Landcare groups, other community groups and local residents refashioned the area, installing swales to direct and slow down the passage of water and planting an indigenous garden around the Tree. The existence of the Blacksmiths’ Tree and the garden prompted State Government to repair erosion caused by the fires along the nearby creek. Today, the indigenous garden is so successful it is used as a seed bank by Stringybark Nursery, a local community-run indigenous nursery. The space is home to wombats, wallabies, and a variety of native birds; in wet weather when the swales fill with water, frogs are heard throughout the garden.

Association (Victoria) in their Bundoora workshop with a 120 year old Bradley helve hammer and a Massey power hammer. Branches were welded to the trunk using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) full penetration welds. With many welders needed to attach the 3500 leaves to hundreds of steel twigs and branches, courses were offered for people to learn Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and a temporary welding workshop was set up in a disused factory where the tree could be constructed.

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Welded Art PHOTOGRAPHIC Exhibition – IIW 2023 Digital Collection