The Somer Tree

The Somer Tree is a soaring, steel, tree-like sculpture standing 3.8m and topped with four curving arms, or branches, which point in different directions. One branch points to the sea, one to the Somerly estate itself, one to the Clarkson train station, and one to a new children’s bushland bicycle trail. Each of these branches is adorned with elements representing the designated area – boats, nesting birds, a train and children riding bikes. Artist Tony Pankiw conceived the design of Somer Tree because:
● he wanted the artwork to be freestanding and free-spirited
● he likes curves and spaces
● it complemented the undulations of the surrounding land
● it implied growth
● and because it conveyed the sense of movement so inherent to Somerly through its proximity to the train station and the ocean.