Silver Spring Tree Makes the News

12/22/2013

Playtime Jubilee

Photo Credit- Brandon Tatum

A tree made of donated toys

Vibrant and unique, practical and clever and absolutely the most eclectic tree I’ve ever seen in my life, Playtime Jubilee is a colorful hodgepodge of children’s toys strategically placed into the form of a holiday tree by artist Karl Unnasch.

Serving as the holiday centerpiece in the Fountain Plaza of Downtown Silver Spring (my neck of the woods), the Playtime Jubilee tree is just what the area needed to bring in the holiday season. One can’t help but stop and look in awe of the tree whether at daytime or in the evening when it glows.

I was shocked that the tree appeared on NBC’s The Today Show and disappointed when they reported that many prefer a traditional tree instead of this one. Did this really make news? Yup, and I think people need to relax and enjoy the tree for the piece of art that it is. The downtown Silver Spring area has drastically changed in the past decade and I am proud to see that it is embracing the arts in a variety of ways. My only regret is that I did not have the pleasure of watching Unnasch at work putting the tree together.

A personal “Thank you” to Karl Unnasch for making my family holiday photos extra special this year! If you are in the area, I highly recommend you get the kiddies together and take some pictures.

How does your community
celebrate the holidays?

33 Comments

Veronica link

12/22/2013 12:47:50 pm

Brilliant! What a colorful Christmas tree and for such a great cause!

Corrine Estena link

12/22/2013 09:03:57 pm

Congratulations on the today show!! I love your blog. This is really great creative work by the artist. I am going to share to my fb page!

Yvonne Brown

12/22/2013 10:42:02 pm

Thanks Veronica! I am glad you like it, especially with your professional eye for aesthetics!

Terry

12/22/2013 09:32:27 pm

Not sure who would prefer a traditional tree as opposed to this wonderful sight and this wonderful true spirit of Christmas tree.
Way to go on reaching the Today show. Way to go on your generosity.

12/22/2013 10:42:48 pm

Thanks for your comment Terry! I guess there are just people out there that just need to be disagreeable.

Jessica

12/22/2013 09:44:34 pm

Fantastic! I'm in Maryland so will have to check this out!

12/22/2013 10:43:14 pm

Yes Jessica! And I would love to see your picture!

kungphoo link

12/22/2013 10:32:27 pm

Wow!! What an amazing idea! I like that as a tradition!

12/22/2013 10:43:44 pm

Thanks Rob! I am glad you like it as a tradition!

Eng Tinkham link

12/22/2013 10:54:25 pm

I love the idea of wiring together the elements and then doing assembly. It makes perfect sense. You are simply the best

12/23/2013 12:54:59 am

Thanks for your comment Eng! Is a genius idea and I love it!

Caitlin Nicke link

12/22/2013 11:29:26 pm

Wow! such a great idea and for such a great cause!! Have a wonderful holiday! :)

12/23/2013 12:55:38 am

Thanks for your comment Caitlin! Happy Holidays to you as well!

Karl Unnasch link

12/23/2013 12:12:02 am

Over coffee and oatmeal I get to read this thoughtful article article this morning. Thank you for all the support and feedback everyone! Top thanks Yvonne for including this project on your blog! It is very fulfilling to see a positive effect public art can have on the community. Cheers and Happy Holidays to you all!

12/23/2013 01:04:36 am

You made my morning Karl! Thanks for dropping by! I love your work and appreciate your creative genius! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Casey Gardner

12/23/2013 12:44:30 am

Wow…what a genius idea. Enjoyed reading this. Happy Holidays.

12/23/2013 01:01:49 am

Thanks for your comment Casey! Happy Holidays!

Stephanie Clopton link

12/23/2013 12:45:50 am

I love this idea and how amazing that NBC showed it. Great you got publicity and hopefully they all realized the cause!

12/23/2013 01:02:46 am

Thanks for your comment Stephanie! Isn't awesome that it made the news?

Marjory Johnson

12/23/2013 12:46:48 am

You did an amazing job putting this together! So colorful and very well displayed. Congrats on NBC too!

12/23/2013 01:03:25 am

Thanks for your comment Marjory! It is more beautiful in person!

Jeff Brand

12/23/2013 02:40:32 am

I am very impressed by this and NBC picked it up too!….Great job on all areas.

12/23/2013 04:15:09 am

Thanks for your comment Jeff! I'm glad you like it!

Brad Lynch link

12/23/2013 04:20:28 am

I think this is stunning and what a great way to showcase all the toys you got for your cause.

12/23/2013 04:28:20 am

Thanks for your comment Brad!

Meli link

12/23/2013 05:57:27 am

People feel comfortable with that which is familiar, so it's not a surprise at all that most don't embrace this new tree. How wonderful of Karl Unnasch to create this tree which is not only a work of art it's a symbol of what this season means.... a time of giving!

Daniele Holmberg link

12/23/2013 06:16:26 am

What an awesome idea! I love the idea of a tree made from donated toys! So cool!!

Irene

12/23/2013 06:27:32 am

Wow I wish I lived near enough to see this. How fantastic this work of art is!

Sistah Joy

12/23/2013 08:18:40 am

Absolutely fabulous! Kudos on such a great and beatiful idea. I'll try to get over to see it. Do you know how long it will be up?

Marielle Altenor link

12/23/2013 09:58:23 am

Wow that is a great looking tree. Love it. Not sure why people would have a problem with it though...Happy Holidays to you my fellow blogger!

Dov Shapira

12/24/2013 09:47:35 am

OIh my goodness I rally like the idea of tree made of donated toys

Sandra Fleming link

12/30/2013 08:35:31 am

Hi Yvonne,

You are a jewel! Amazing! I think it was in November when I saw this being put together. They were working on the first two layer of sleds, I and my friends were wondering what the heck it was. At first I didn't realize this was the masterpiece I originally saw being built. I would love to have visited Silver Spring again to see the finished product. It's amazing what creative mind can create. Not everybody can see the beauty in something so unique, so don't worry about those that prefer traditional trees.

Thanks again for sharing! I would love to see this live, I suspect it might be taken down now. :-(

1/2/2014 09:03:48 am

Thank you for your comment Sandra! Especially your kind words! I am glad you had a chance to see it in the making! Happy New Year to you!