Facility worker Tom Fink’s interest in wire art began after seeing an advertisement and thinking to himself, “I could do that…” Now, nearly a decade later, his hobby has blossomed into a source of connection on our campus.
After learning of Tom’s hobby, one student took a particular interest and wanted to learn the skill. From that moment on, every Thursday, a small group of students would join Tom in his workshop for casual lessons, where they would chat and practice making small wire works of art like rings, earrings and pendants.
Meanwhile, across campus, Tom’s work caught the eye of a group of staff who spotted a small wire tree in a coworker’s office and immediately noticed the resemblance to Spaulding’s logo. At the request of his colleagues, and alongside the students who worked with him weekly, Tom got to work crafting his biggest sculpture yet.
His student protégés worked with him to choose colors and beads and provide suggestions on how the branches could be bent and twisted to most closely resemble the Spaulding tree. Finally, when the project was almost complete, the student who requested the workshop suggested Tom use a rock as the base of the tree, but it couldn’t just be any rock — it’d have to be from Spaulding’s campus. Behind Lambert Cottage, Tom found the perfect one, left behind by a recent graduate who spent many years at Spaulding and is deeply missed by the community.
The finished piece now lives at Spaulding, and Tom hopes it will be enjoyed by many for years to come and that the students he worked with will remain inspired.
To him, “It’s a symbol of regrowth: the rings of a tree mimic the years we go around the sun. The branches represent different facets of our interests; the peak reminds us to step back and gain perspective, and the roots remind us to stay grounded. At Spaulding, I always took it to mean family. I think kids see trees in art and media depicted as metaphors for family, so it’s comforting.”
