Tree for friendship

“The Tree for Friendship” is a constantly changing group work that was created in Murano, in the heart of Venice. It was designed to evolve and adapt to the passing of time and the changing of the seasons. It had a winter theme in its first guise, with gold and silver hues that made the glass pieces quiver in the bewitching, magical light of the season. This was followed by a second display that welcomed the warm weather with a burst of colours and shapes. The third display was created to celebrate an ideal time of virtual twinning between the two cities of Venice and New York, which have always been bound by a profound friendship.

The work went on display in Grand Central Terminal in New York thanks to a project that was promoted and developed by the Veneto regional authorities and the Consorzio Promovetro Murano association.

The Architect Simona M. Favrin was responsible for the design and coordination of the scheme. The metal structure was made by Officina SDF of Murano in Venice. The structural calculations were done by the engineer Martino Roma, while Forme d’Acqua took charge of the assembly and technical assistance, initially for the two displays in Venice and subsequently for the one in New York. The work has a self-supporting metal structure that is 4.50 m tall and has a maximum diameter of 2.50 m, with an overall weight of more than 800 kg. It has 66 metal branches with special connection and hanging systems for more than 200 glass pieces, each of which is a unique item made completely by hand by the master glass makers of the leading glass works in Murano.