THE TREE OF LIFE - 1960
Covering the wall behind the altar in the church Sanctuary, the floor-to-ceiling mural is divided into three vertical panels. The outer panels flank a wider central band, on which a simplified tree is depicted. Made using rounded pebbles of grey, brown, and beige, the tree’s pale branches stretch upward in a series of “U” shapes. The tree trunk is widest at the bottom, while the top of the tree is not visible. The illusion of soaring height thus created suggests that the Tree of Life is emerging from the altar, breaching the church roof, and reaching to heaven.
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San Marino Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
2560 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108
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1960
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Smith, Powell & Morgridge
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Natural rock mosaic mural
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25 ft. x 10 ft.
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Unknown
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San Marino Congregational Church
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The well-maintained mosaic remains in its original location.
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Top: TVS digital records, Unknown photographer
Middle: Photograph, Janet Owen Driggs
Bottom: Photograph, Janet Owen Driggs
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While Tree of Life iconography occurs across multiple cultures and religious practices, Christianity understands it as a companion to the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life, an image Van Sant also employed in 1968 for the Geneva Presbyterian Church,was “among the symbols used in Biblical times to express the covenant relationship between God and his people.”[1] As with the 1968 mural, “the artist took an old and universally familiar symbol and expressed it in a new form and in a new medium.” [2]
The Christian iconography of light is also fully present in this work. Constructed using natural rock pieces that are larger, rougher, and more protuberant than the pebbles in the central band, the outer bands of mosaic catch light from the ceiling windows above and appear to glow softly.
“Mr. Van Sant considered over twenty colors of stone for the mural, gradually eliminating one by one until the four used remained. The deep brown stone is from Texas and called Texas Cedar. The other three are from California: the Rainbow Pink from the Lancaster area; The Silver Grey Lompoc from Lompoc; and the White Quartz which is found in many places. The larger textured stone on either side of the mural is the Silver Grey Lompoc. The stone in the mural is held in place with epoxy resin glue. Stone masons laid the walls on either side using a pattern known as Mexican rubble which gives the impression of stone laid upon stone in a random fashion without mortar. An interesting feature of the Lompoc stone are the small fossil marks. The color and texture of the stone, and the movement of light and shadow, have given to the worship center a setting of remarkable strength and beauty.” [3]
The church website states that the mosaic “received a Fine Arts Award in 1961 from the American Institute of Architects for its design.” [4]
On December 13, 1959, the Los Angeles Times announced: “Ground-breaking ceremonies for a new sanctuary at the San Marino Congregational Church will be held today.” [5] On October 16, 1960, the newspaper announced that the “dedication of the new sanctuary...is today.” [6] It is most probable therefore that, while Van Sant’s resumes list this as a 1959 work, the mosaic was completed in 1960.
[1-3] Rev. Bertrand V. Crist, The Tree of Life Mural, a short text written c. 1960 for the parish about Van Sant’s mural the Tree of Life (1960) at San Marino Congregational Church, San Marino, California.
[4] Rev. Marcia L. Hoffman, “History of San Marino Congregational Church,” United Church of Christ website, https://sanmarinoucc.org/history/
[5] “Ground-Breaking Set at San Marino Church,” Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec 1959, A11.
[6] “Church Sanctuary to Be Dedicated Today,” Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct 1960, SG9.
