Artist takes down lake peace symbol

[MsUSA]

The peace symbol created out of 53 evergreen trees on Lake Mendota was dismantled last weekend by artist Tom Barry and friends.

"We risked life and limbs to take the trees off the lake," Barry said Wednesday.

Barry, who had previously preferred to remain anonymous, said he had ropes on hand and other safety measures planned should the ice, which was already thin, give way.

Barry said his peace project was inspired in large part by activist Merry Hunter, who was a neighbor of Barry's family for 12 years.

Hunter, the widow of longtime Capital Times reporter John Patrick Hunter, passed away in December.

"One of the things that struck me at her memorial service was that people talked about Merry as a peace activist, someone who would not stand idle. I thought if she can do it, I can do something as well. In a way, it's a testament to Merry."

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=72072&ntpid=0

[Dunvegan]

1. Sad this was removed...and to think they talked politics at a funeral...

...of a peace activist.

Seems to be a very prelevant manner of tribute for something the wingnuts call so "rude."

[TygrBright]

2. Not sad.... responsible

The ice was getting thin. The trees could have gone through at any time and added to the biomass in the lake, which is not large. Also, having the trees there could have convinced eejits (and there's plenty in Mad City) that it was okay to go schlepping on out there.

It was never meant as a permanent installation, after all.

informatively,
Bright