#7: Tides
Levi Yakubu, 2026
This piece is worth the trek! It's the farthest from the library building, at the turning point of the unpaved hiking trail.
About the tree
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
aka “American Plane Tree” or “Buttonwood”. At 60’-100’ tall, it is one of the largest broadleaf trees in the Carolinas. While most live for 250 years, some individuals have been documented to live 500+ years. The striking brown, green, and white mottled bark resembles jigsaw puzzle pieces and sets it apart from other trees growing along our creeks and bottomlands. The fruit is a 1” round aggregate of many densely packed achenes (fruit seeds) hanging from a long stalk that often persist through the winter.
Fun facts: The hollow trunks of large old trees are home to birds and mammals such as Barred owls and raccoons, and early settlers sometimes used the large hollow trees as temporary shelter while building permanent homes. The wood which doesn’t easily split was used to make buttons. Hence the common name, buttonwood.
About the project
In March 2026, twelve trees in Pritchard Park will be home to clay masks and figures, created by artist Levi Yakubu and inspired by his Nigerian background.
Levi Yakubu is a graduate of Dordt University in Fine Arts Studio with an emphasis in ceramics. He is a 5th generation potter who grew up in Nigeria surrounded by mentors like his father who have influenced his work today. Yakubu draws upon his rich cultural background, the Tiv ethnic group of West Africa, to create artwork that speaks to his cultural identity and encourages dialogue around difficult issues. He currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he is an art teacher.
See more of Levi's work on Instagram @yakubupottery.
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