Annual Holiday Trees
for Downtown Silver Spring

Holiday “Trees” by Karl Unnasch (et al.)
in Silver Spring, Maryland - A Metro D.C. Community

- From 2013 to 2019 -

Holiday Trees for Downtown Silver Spring by Karl Unnasch et al.

From 2013 to 2019, Karl Unnasch created the annual holiday trees for the Reinventing the Holidays celebration by Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, often in collaboration with other invited artists. (In 2020, the project was officially handed over to artist colleague Michael Cimino.)

The installations won several ICSC awards and were featured on national and international media.

Details on each can be found below. For some of the installations, a Project Page is available which can be accessed by clicking on the respective image.

Foreground & background photos: Pilot Mound Design
Background photo on top block: Pilot Mound Design

Colorbound Tree

— 2019 —

Joyous color and twinkling lights make for a visual treat during the holidays. This year's holiday delight was a festive stack of pure light and color. The surface's interplay of overlapping shapes evoked the layered branches of a tall evergreen from somewhere deep in a forest. Bands of warm colors interwove amongst the surface, becoming twinkling garlands. A fluorescent starburst blossomed atop the configuration, whilst colored blinking lights punctuating the exterior rounded out the jubilant pageantry.

— in collaboration with Michael Cimino, Michelle Izquierdo, Vanessa Smith, and Erick Satchell II

Photo: Michelle Izquierdo

commUNITY Tree

— 2018 —

The kaleidoscopic surface mural was a fusion of the work of four artists celebrating the notion of ‘community’.

— in collaboration with Michael Cimino, Michelle Izquierdo, Vanessa Smith, and Erick Satchell II

Photo: Pilot Mound Design

Good Energy Tree

— 2017 —

Bicycles, solar panels and a wind turbine adorned this ode to renewable energies.

— in collaboration with ENJOINERY.

Photo: Clark W. Day

Positivi-Tree

— 2016 —

Hundreds of umbrellas unfurled into a grandiose array representing inclusivity, protection and shelter.

— in collaboration with ENJOINERY.

Photo: Chris Yankowski

Well-Seasoned Greetings

— 2015 —

Inspired by the musical Oliver, this food-themed tree celebrated the role food plays in our holiday season, becoming the means by which we celebrate a time of thanks, peace, joy and love.

— in collaboration with ENJOINERY.

★ Winner of an ICSC U.S. MAXI Silver Award ★

Photo: Pilot Mound Design

Silver Symphony

— 2014 —

Awash with sound, motion, and light, this musically themed holiday tree jingled at passers-by on the whims of the wind, luring them in to the interactive panel to “play the tree” with a holiday tune of their own.

— in collaboration with ENJOINERY.

Photo: Pilot Mound Design

Playtime Jubilee

— 2013 —

This whimsical holiday tree conjured entirely of toys and sporting goods enchanted young and old alike — and even caught the attention of NBC’s Today show.

★ Winner of TWO ICSC U.S. MAXI Silver Awards ★

Photo: Pilot Mound Design

Email

karl@karlunnasch.com

Phone

+1 (507) 272 0452

Annual Holiday Trees for Downtown Silver Spring

Holiday “Trees” by Karl Unnasch (et al.)in Silver Spring, Maryland - A Metro D.C. Community- From 2013 to 2019 -

Colorbound Tree

— 2019 —

commUNITY Tree

— 2018 —

Good Energy Tree

— 2017 —

Positivi-Tree

— 2016 —

Well-Seasoned Greetings

— 2015 —

Silver Symphony

— 2014 —

Playtime Jubilee

— 2013 —

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Annual Holiday Trees
for Downtown Silver Spring

Holiday “Trees” by Karl Unnasch (et al.)
in Silver Spring, Maryland - A Metro D.C. Community

- From 2013 to 2019 -