I’m not exactly a bonafide tree-hugger, but this work by Magdalena Abakanowicz makes me wanna run to the nearest redwood and strap myself to it!

I couldn't see yet another tree cut down by nature’s mortal enemies! With that said…one does wonder where Abakanowicz herself stands on the mutilation of forests. Was this particular tree trunk already a fallen soldier, which she chose to embalm in the name of art? Or was it a casualty of Magdalena’s own chainsaw? The latter seems to be true according to this picture from her website. Someone call Greenpeace. Though we have to commend her for wrestling down this huge trunk all by herself.

Evocative of a scarred landscape and a wounded body all in one, Zadra is a classic Abakanowicz combination of death and life. She employs the organic material of the fallen tree to evoke the human form and then probes it with steel protrusions to conjure the harsh, man-made weapons of war. And another nice little dichotomy comes into play when you examine the shape and form of the piece. The tree trunk seems to extend beyond it’s own form and begins to bear resemblance to a weapon. Not to mention the obvious phallic form, representing the masculinity of most military endeavors. (Just sayin'.)

“Wounded Woodwork” could’ve been an alternative title for this piece. Or "Did anyone hear?" The series is called War Games, and is housed in a winery for Pete’s sake. So once you finish checking out Abakanowicz’s work, trot over to the cellars and down a few good vintages. Might I suggest a bold red, with a nice oak finish?