While I Breathe I Hope Palmetto Tree from the collection of One Columbia for Arts and Culture

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While I Breathe I Hope Palmetto Tree, 2000

Location: West Columbia (Google map)

This palmetto tree has everything you can imagine to do with South Carolina. It features the state bird, the state dog, state flowers, the state amphibian and many more state staples. Each side of the palm tree is the cities view from where they are standing, making it incredibly interactive to the eye.

The 87 “steel palmettos” went on display at the of June 2000 and are at locations throughout Lexington and Richland counties. In addition, a tree will be sent to Columbia’s sister city, Kaiserslautern, Germany, for display. Another tree will go to Queensland, Australia, South Carolina’s sister state, for display.

A jury team of seven museum professionals selected the winning designs from 160 entries. Most of the participating artists are from the greater Columbia area.