Elm Timeline Project

Sacramento, CA is known for its trees. There are many large, old trees in the downtown area. Dutch Elm disease caused the cutting of several for public safety. One six-foot diameter tree was selected to be preserved by making a bronze of a cross-section, with a timeline from 1885-2002 of major world and Sacramento events. The bronze was placed at the entrance of Cesar Chavez Plaza, (9th and I Streets, Sacramento) where it had lived for 117 years. This page shows the process Garr Ugalde and I (Kerry Crutcher) used to make the bronze from a cross-section of the Elm.

Cutting a slice of the stump

Garr is leveling the surface

The project model shows our concept

Kerry is sanding the surface

The surface has been leveled, filled and the tags and plaque are placed. It is ready for molding.

The surface is protected with aluminum foil, and a blanket of quarter-inch thick clay covers the surface, with an additional thickness over the metal plates. The clay occupies a space for the rubber mold, and will be removed after the fiberglass mother mold is finished.

The finished fiberglass mother mold. One side was pigmented to aid in separation.

Here is a section of the rubber mold. The risers are pulled through the mother mold, and a dowel rod is inserted through a hole near their base. This keeps the rubber against the surface of the mother mold to insure an accurate casting.

Garr and Kerry with a resin cast from the mold. This was exhibited at the Sacramento County area of the 2004 State Fair. This casting is the property of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and is light enough to travel for educational purposes.

Garr and Kerry installing the mother mold (mm). The clay and aluminum foil have been removed, and the mm is placed in alignment with the stump, and rubber will be poured into the cavity.

Kerry pours rubber into a riser.

A wax was poured into the mold, removed, and imperfections repaired. The wax was taken to a foundry, cut apart for handling, and converted into bronze. This picture shows the pieces welded together.

The bronze is attached to the base.

The finished bronze is given a chemical patina.

Kerry and Garr help to set the bronze in concrete.

Mayor Heather Fargo and Councilmember Ray Tretheway unveiled the bronze on Arbor Day, March 7, 2005. It is placed in Cesar Chavez Plaza, at the corner of 9th and I Streets, Sacramento, CA.

The finished bronze!

Bronze Elm Timeline Project