This is the tree trunk before the mosaic installation located at Upper Brookside in San Anselmo, Ca. the mosaic branches will extend around the building and the bugs and snakes will live below the roots of the tree. The CommuniTree mural will depict a Tree of Life growing from the ground, extending outwards into the world and filled with the unfolding elements of life. Our children, parents, and the Ross Valley community will create these elements as a multi-media mosaic during the upcoming school year. The project will be an extension of the school’s art curriculum, and it is intended that every family in the Brookside community play a part in its creation and installation.


The Tree of Life is the oldest known cultural icon, referred to in religions and cultures around the world. It is the origin of the menorah design, and of other conceptual metaphors such as the tree of knowledge and family trees. It represents the interconnectedness, unity and interdependence of all beings, living or not. Depicted in its branches are all facets of our experiences in life—animals, fruits, flowers, rainbows, rivers, mountains, and the celestial phenomena of moon, sun and stars. The image of a tree growing up from the earth where it is rooted and reaching skyward serves as a metaphor for the journey of life itself. The healing process of creating this piece of permanent public art embraces the spiritual aspect of our lives and community, offering our children and families an opportunity to embrace the cycles of life.