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This is a contributing entry for Greater Charleston West Virginia Public Art Tour and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.
Deep Roots, Long Reach was created by Harry McDaniel and installed in 2019. The aluminum and steel tree pays homage to Charleston's rich history, while simultaneously symbolizing its future. Deep Roots, Long Reach is kinetic, meaning it has the ability to move. There are eight different joints that can each turn and spin independently, based on the whims of the wind. The piece was commissioned for $30,000 by the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center with support from the city of Charleston and Briar Hills Garden Club. McDaniel was selected from thirty-five artists who applied for the commission. He made Deep Roots, Long Reach at his workshop in Asheville, NC, before transporting it to Charleston himself. At twenty feet tall by seventeen feet wide, the work had to be dismantled for transport and reassembled in Charleston. McDaniel and Charleston's Office of Public Art director, Jeff Pierson, expressed similar sentiments hoping that Deep Roots, Long Reach would be just one of many major new public artworks in Charleston.

Studio assistant Charlie Beech helps assemble the work in 2019.

Sky, Daytime, Cloud, Sculpture

Deep Roots, Long Reach.

Wood, Twig, Trunk, Natural material

Kemp, Kenny. Deep Roots Long Reach Sculpture, Charleston Gazette-Mail. March 6th 2019. Accessed December 17th 2020. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/uploaded_photos/deep-roots-long-reach-sculpture/image_30ca581d-833b-5b00-8f0e-e7dc58263088.html.

Kinetic sculpture dedicated outside of Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, WCHS. March 12th 2019. Accessed December 17th 2020. https://wchsnetwork.com/kinetic-sculpture-dedicated-outside-of-charleston-coliseum-convention-center/.

Lieu, Sarah. Large kinetic sculpture installed in Charleston, WCHS. March 5th 2019. Accessed December 17th 2020. https://wchstv.com/news/local/large-kinetic-sculpture-installed-in-charleston.

McDaniel, Harry. Deep Roots, Long Reach, Harry McDaniel. Accessed December 17th 2020. https://www.harrymcdaniel.com/works/DeepRootLongReach.html.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Kemp, Kenny. 2019. Charleston Gazette-Mail. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://www.wvgazettemail.com/uploaded_photos/deep-roots-long-reach-sculpture/image_30ca581d-833b-5b00-8f0e-e7dc58263088.html.

Office of Public Art, Charleston WV. Accessed December 17, 2020. https://gisweb.cityofcharleston.org/storymaps/arttour/#.