Tree Safari: A Sculptural Journey

by | Aug 1, 2006 | Read, Watch, Tree Safari

In association with Brad Sells

In search of exotic woods, world-class sculptor Brad Sells meets botanists, Boer farmers, scientists and Zulu shamans while learning the medicinal power of trees. From the African bush to the bright lights of a top Chicago gallery show, Tree Safari: A Sculptural Journey explores our cultural relationships to trees, revealing one artist’s deepening appreciation of his beautiful medium.


Cookeville, Tennessee artist Brad Sells has carved a solid career teasing fine art from rough timber. Sells’ work is now sought by a growing numbers of galleries and museums including Neiman Marcus, the Cincinnati Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.

Arriving in South Africa, Sells first stop is Johannesburg’s Bruma Market where he seeks out local carvers. Sells then calls on Boer farmer and former big game guide Chris Bassoon. Zebras and wildebeest scatter as they roll over a landscape of sunburned hillocks and bleached grass flats to a stand of Pink Ivory trees. One tree shows the signs of a Zulu sangoma—a traditional healer—who has skinned a small patch of tree bark for what Basson explains as muhti, a combination of Zulu magic and medicine.

Harvesting a dying Pink Ivory tree, Sells begins to shape his first African sculpture – the first of many pieces that will be followed through to the Sculptural Objects and Functional Arts (SOFA) exposition in Chicago.Curious about muhti, Sells seeks out Makazi Nomaziz, a sangoma who offers to read his fortune by “throwing his bones.” The talismans pouring from her “bones” bag include beads, a green die, a Leggo, a 9mm bullet, and a domino.

In beautiful Walter Susulu National Park we seek out Johannesburg botanist Ben-Erik van Weg who explains more about muhti and the sangoma tradition deeply rooted in Zulu culture. While many of the mysterious treatments are proven effective by western medical standards, van Weg says that some are physiological, some psychological, and some are simply inexplicable.

The sculptor’s acute respect for the spirit of these woods only intensifies as he consults Baba Mutwa, a Zulu sanusi—a sangoma to all sangomas. A living legend, Baba Mutwa speaks of the spirit of trees and the ways in which they are “our protectors.”In the bush, Sells and assistant Steven Flatt locate extraordinary woods: chocolate-acacia, green-streaked olive, white cat’s whiskers wood, and the legendary red ivory. The sculpting begins, but while still in rude form they are shipped to Sells’ Tennessee studio where the pair race to deliver a world-class collection of objets d’art in time for the SOFA opening.

The shapes develop over months; the colors of the heartwood turn brighter with each sanding. Judging knots, grain, and contours, Sells coaxes the character from each piece.

Sells’ art evokes the elemental: earth, water, wind and fire. His desire to arrest motion starts with hard wood and hydraulic saws, yet his works embody suppleness rarely seen in solid objects.

Chicago’s SOFA show attracts America’s top art critics and collectors who speak to the changing value of wood art, of the Tree Safari collection and of Brad Sells’ singular talent. Gallery strollers guess at the process in which these fantastic shapes were born—a sculptural journey now well known to the Tree Safari viewer.

Music for TREE SAFARI: A Sculptural Journey

Little Sarah’s Orchestra
Chartwell Dutiro

Produced by: Todd Jarrell
Written & Directed by: Todd Jarrell
Project Manager: Becky Magura
Executive Producer: Dr. Ken Garry
Videography: Rob Hawthorne, Todd Jarrell, Dave Sergio
Additional Videography: Becky Magura, Amanda Malone, Kevin Lovellette
Narrated by: Todd Jarrell
Video Editor: Eddie Hales
Graphics: Jeff Adams
Original Music: Ethan Ballinger, Jonathan Tarlton
Little Sarah’s Orchestra: Ethan Ballinger, Noel Bohannon, Patrick Mayberry,Tony Neely, Jacob Standifer, Wes Gamer, Spirit Talk Mbira, Chartwell Dutiro, Richard Selman, Kristyan Robinson, Annette Loose, Jon Sellars, Elmar Pohl
Still Photography: Dan Kellerby, Steven Flatt
Postproduction Services: Rock Creative Images, Nashville, TN
Production Consultants: Rob Hawthorne, Rick Wells, Tika Laudun
Special Thanks to: Cormark International, SOFA Chicago, Sue Schesser, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Virgin Airlines, South Africa
This Program is produced by: TWO SIX, Inc, with WCTE-TV,
which are solely responsible for its content© 2006 WCTE-TV & Two Six, Inc.

Other Journeys

Related Posts

¡Dia de los Muertos!

¡Dia de los Muertos!

Taped before a live audience in the “underworld” of The Caverns subterranean amphitheater, ¡Dia de los Muertos! is a musical celebration of this much-anticipated and highly celebrated fiesta by people of Mexican heritage everywhere. Special guests include Latino rock...

Bluegrass Now!

Bluegrass Now!

BLUEGRASS NOW! is an homage to Bluegrass’ past to honor Bluegrass’ present and future. Join hosts Rhonda Vincent and Jim Lauderdale, to welcome an astonishing array of talent representing a full spectrum of today’s Bluegrass family. Special guests include Alison...

Songwriting With Soldiers (PBS)

Songwriting With Soldiers (PBS)

Celebrate award-winning singer/songwriters, veterans and active service members as they come together for a powerful night of music during “Songwriting With Soldiers,” a PBS special performed and taped at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium. The 1-hour prime time...

Bitter Pill: Youth at Risk

Bitter Pill: Youth at Risk

Discover people who became addicted as teenagers or before: who were first given opioids by friends or by medical staff, who have made successful recovery, and the effect on younger children, young mothers who are addicted, babies who are born addicted, and children...