London Plane, Tree Scroll

London Plane, Tree Scroll, 12 feet x 5 feet, charcoal on canvas.

This twelve-foot charcoal drawing depicts a venerable London Plane tree standing in McCarren Park, estimated to be around 150 years old. The scroll, photographed here suspended from a nine-foot ceiling and unfurling onto the floor, honors the tree’s endurance and hybrid lineage—born of the American Sycamore and Oriental Plane. Originally cultivated in London during the Industrial Revolution to withstand polluted air, these resilient trees were later planted across New York City to weather the rigors of urban life. Here, the tree stands proud—scarred yet steadfast, a living emblem of adaptation and loyalty.