A slideshow documenting tree sculptures created from trees killed by Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas was created by Jack Cross and initially sent to friends. However, it quickly went viral as recipients shared it widely. The slideshow features 24 sculptures and is set to music. It has provided comfort and inspiration to many across the country coping with tree loss from disasters. Cross is pleased his small project has helped promote Galveston Island, where he was born and raised and still loves.

1. industry worker known for his
community service and his skills
tinkering with photographs and
music. “I had no idea whatsoever
the thing would explode out like it
did all over the nation.” The slide
show is set to a quiet rendition of
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by
Eva Cassidy. An introduction
describes the devastation of
Hurricane Ike and sculptures carved
from treasured trees. Photographs
of the 24 sculptures follow. Jack
Fitzgerald, of Freeland, Mich.,
wrote, “Thanks for the bright light
in an ordinary day.” Another
responder, identified only as
“Got2btu,” wrote, “I am in Arkansas
and will be sending
this on to people across the
nation. Sad and beautiful at the
same time.” Joyce O’Brien wrote
G ALVESTON — Jack Cross, of Texas City, from Albertville, Ala., where a
devastating tornado struck in
put together a slide show of the Galveston April, damaging many of the
tree sculptures, threw in some music, and e- trees, wrote: “I cannot express
mailed it to a few friends last month. Within how much the slide show has
days, he was getting responses from across meant to me, and I have shared it
the country, many of them promising to pass with many people.” Michelle
the PowerPoint presentation on to their e- Sierpina, founding director of the
mail address list, as well as to community Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
leaders. A supermarket tabloid and an at the University of Texas
arborist magazine also got the slide show Medical Branch, received the e-
attachment, and will publish photographs o mail from her husband, Dr. Vic
the sculptures made of trees killed by Sierpina,who got a copy from a
Hurricane Ike in 2008. Cross’ e-mail has colleague in San Diego. Michelle
gone viral. His project entailed documenting was so impressed, she designed a
some of the many tree sculptures seminar for the institute’s
summer

2. created in Galveston after thousands of program to feature Cross and
Galveston trees died from saltwater Donna Leibbert, of the Galveston
poisoning caused in September 2008 by Island Tree Conservancy, who
Hurricane Ike’s storm surge. “I was really helped coordinate the wood
only going to send it to friends,” said Cross, sculpting program. Tree
78, a retired chemical sculptures
Earl Jones and James Phillips also will
be featured in the Aug. 25 seminar.
The National Examiner and the
Arborist News magazine plan two-
page spreads of the photographs.
Cross is glad for the publicity and
responds to each e-mail. “I was born
and raised in Galveston and I still
love the island,” he said. “This is a
way I can make a small contribution
to promote the island.”

3. LEFT: A pod of dolphins
and a mermaid leap from
the trunk of a massive live
oak in the 900 block of
Ball Street in Galveston.
RIGHT: Chainsaw artist
Dayle Lewis turned an oak
tree in the 1600 block of
Sealy into birds in flight,
with roseate spoonbills,
herons, egrets and other
Gulf Coast birds.