A magnificent new landmark now marks the entrance to the Tracy Hills development in California, as artist Terrence Martin's impressive 30-foot stainless steel sculpture "Tree of Reflection" was successfully installed over the weekend at the roundabout intersection of Corral Hollow Road and Sierra View Drive. The gleaming artwork, commissioned by Integral Communities and donated to the city of Tracy, represents a significant addition to the community's public art collection.

The sculpture, inspired by the kapok tree from the Amazon rainforest, stands as both an artistic statement and a welcoming gateway to the developing Tracy Hills community. Martin, who operates Jagged Edge Metal Art from his workshop in Pilot Hill near Auburn, created the piece entirely from stainless steel to ensure long-lasting durability in the California elements. "The whole thing is stainless steel: the base plate, the internals. There's nothing on it that will rust. Not one thing. Even the transformers are stainless," Martin explained.

The project began in early 2023 when Martin and the Tracy Hills developers presented their proposal to the Tracy Arts Commission. John Stanek, Principal for Integral Communities, had previously seen Martin's work at Mary's Pizza Shack on McDowell Boulevard in Petaluma, part of that city's public art program. "He said he wanted something like that, just bigger and better. So this is what we came up with," Martin recalled. The sculpture measures 30 feet in height and spans 30 feet from tip to tip across its widest points.

The complex installation process required careful planning and precision execution. Martin constructed the sculpture in sections at his workshop to facilitate shipping, with the pieces arriving at the Tracy Hills site last Thursday. A massive crane was used to position the bottom section, representing the tree trunk, onto a specially prepared 6-foot-thick concrete slab in the center of the roundabout. The top portion, featuring 10 branches and leaves, was then carefully lowered into place. "It just went really smooth. I can't believe we did it," Martin said. "Every obstacle we overcame, somebody would figure it out. The crane operator was helping all along the way."

One of the most challenging aspects of the installation involved aligning the connection points between the two main sections. Martin described the delicate process of lining up the holes where the segments had to be bolted together and then welded. The top section's unusual appearance during installation caught attention, with Martin noting it looked "like an alien spaceship, or a 10-headed hydra, landing" as it was lowered into position.

Following the structural installation, Martin spent several days applying the sculpture's distinctive exterior finish. The surface consists of thousands of mirror-finish stainless steel tiles, each specially designed to form around the complex curves of the tree structure without buckling. "I developed these tiles so that I can form them around shapes without them buckling," Martin explained. "I don't know how many tiles there are. It probably would have been fun to keep track. This is one of three projects that I've skinned with these tiles, and I will tell you, it is challenging."

The engineering behind "Tree of Reflection" reflects Martin's attention to both aesthetics and structural integrity. Having visited the installation site three and a half years ago, Martin carefully considered the environmental factors that would affect his sculpture, particularly the strong winds that sweep across the hills toward Corral Hollow Canyon. "There's so much cross bracing that's going on in this thing. It looks like another galaxy going up to the top of this," he said, describing the internal framework that provides stability.

The sculpture's interactive lighting elements add another dimension to its visual impact. Illuminated glass rocks embedded in the leaves work in conjunction with the mirror-like exterior surface to create changing reflections throughout the day and night. The interplay between natural sunlight, artificial lighting, and the polished steel surface ensures that the artwork will present different appearances depending on weather conditions and time of day.

The financial and administrative aspects of the project moved through several approval stages. The Tracy Arts Commission gave initial approval in early 2023, and the Tracy City Council approved the detailed description, drawings, and proposed budget of approximately $483,000 on April 15, 2024. Integral Communities covered all costs associated with the commission and installation. On August 19, 2024, the city council unanimously voted to accept the donation as part of Tracy's civic art collection.

Martin brings extensive experience to public art projects, having completed major installations for various cities and businesses throughout California. His portfolio, available at jaggededgemetalart.com, demonstrates his expertise in creating durable, visually striking works designed to serve as long-standing community landmarks. The Tracy Hills installation represents another significant addition to his body of public art.

The completion of "Tree of Reflection" marks a milestone for the Tracy Hills development, providing a distinctive entrance feature that will welcome residents and visitors for years to come. The sculpture's prominent location at the busy intersection ensures maximum visibility, while its substantial size and reflective surface make it an unmistakable landmark for the growing community.