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The artist designed and produced a series of metal sculptures for the newly widened streetscape of Dunlap Avenue. The tree guards feature cutout metal shapes of human figures. The figures face the street and are intended to serve as sentinels or gatekeepers into the Sunnyslope Village core. All are made from welded steel and painted with a matte-black finish.

They stand quietly on Dunlap Avenue, watching the traffic pass and people walk by. Their presence is known to all that live in the neighborhood and while they are made of the same material, each has individual character.

Originally designed to protect the Chinese Elms planted along Dunlap Avenue, these figures greet residents with a whimsical presence often lacking in a large city. Each figure is made of welded steel with figurative attachments. Their grinning faces and unique attire make their presence hard to ignore. The Tree Guards represent the diversity of the people living in the Sunnyslope area while celebrating the history of the area. As a group, they serve as sentinels or gatekeepers into the Sunnyslope village core.

About the Artist
Garth Edwards lives in Seattle, Washington. He is well known for his whimsical style and has created public art pieces in Washington State, Portland, and Arizona.