Ancient Tree Species Proves Irresistible to Student Seeking to Combine Art, Science

What happens when an art major with a lifelong interest in maps and a love of computing starts exploring the potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)? 

If that student is Matthew Belsky '06, the project that develops is a Website that analyzes the history and location of a tree considered to be a "living fossil": the Dawn Redwood, known as Metasequoia glyptostroboides. Belsky, who undertook the Web site as an independent project completed during 2005-06, will share his knowledge at an Aug. 7 invited presentation during the second annual Metasequoia Symposium at Bryant University in Rhode Island. Said the recent Skidmore graduate from Wayne, Penn., "I am quite honored. I will be speaking in front of the foremost experts on Metasequoias in the world." Quite an outcome for someone who, one year ago, was just beginning a project that he hoped would link a growing interest in GIS with his art major.

Closely related to both Sequoias and Cypresses, Metasequoias have a strange and fascinating history, says Belsky. The trees have existed for 100 million years and were quite numerous in the western United States during the age of dinosaurs. Long thought to be extinct, a Metasequoia was identified in interior China in 1941. Specimens from this tree were sent in 1947 to Harvard's Arnold Arboretum and subsequently distributed throughout the world. Metasequoias are deciduous trees with a broad, gnarled base and finely textured needles that resemble ferns. In the fall the needles turn from green to brown before falling.

Belsky's interest in Metasequoias was sparked by Associate Professor of Art Margo Mensing, whose site-specific installation "meta/Metasequoia" opened in May at the Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania. Mensing and her collaborator John McQueen, known for creating works that emphasize art and the environment, teamed up with Philadelphia architect J. Shemeta on "meta/Metasequoia".

According to Belsky, Mensing's artistic interpretation of the trees inspired him to learn more about the species. He started last summer, sending 1,500 e-mails to scholars and researchers around the country to gather data on living U.S. specimens. The result is his web site, which records complete data on 331 Metasequoias from 44 different institutions in 22 states, from Vermont to Louisiana, Georgia to Oregon. Despite, or perhaps because of the quirky nature of these trees, there had been no extensive previous map studies, which suited Belsky. "I wanted to do something unique," he explained. Among his findings:

- The oldest U.S. specimen is 57 years; the tallest is 140 feet. The largest trees are located both in Oregon and the mid-Atlantic region.

- Besides the Morris and Arnold arboretums, significant specimens also are located at Princeton University and Peavy Arboretum at Oregon State University.

- The largest concentration of the trees is on the mid-Atlantic Coast.

- Metasequoias prefer low or medium wind and moderate precipitation.

GIS was a winning idea for Belsky, who has loved maps since elementary school. His father's profession as a computer programmer meant that the younger Belsky became comfortable with computers at a young age. "The combination of maps and computers was effortless for me," said Belsky, adding, "my art skills have been a wonderful asset."

It is perhaps no surprise that the combination of skills and knowledge led quickly to gainful employment. Belsky now works as a GIS analyst at AWS Truewind in Albany, N.Y., a wind mapping, meteorology, and wind assessment firm.