Tree of Life

A tree grows on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

“I am no painter.” —Michelangelo, in a 1509 letter complaining of the difficulty of fresco work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Colorful mural of a large tree with roots extending across the wall and staircase, surrounded by flowers, leaves, and butterflies.
Modern multi-story building with large arched glass windows and exterior lighting at dusk, located next to an older red brick building with fire escapes.
Interior view of a modern building with a black-framed glass door and window. Through the glass, a colorful mural with floral and abstract designs is visible. A ladder and painting supplies are in front of the mural, indicating ongoing artwork.
Colorful, stylized tree with birds, flowers, and animals arranged vertically, divided into four sections, with scripture references around the border.

The Roots

When tasked with creating a multi-story mural inside the first new church built in Manhattan in decades, it was imperative to get to the root of the story. Founded in 1989 by Tim and Kathy Keller, the Redeemer East Side congregation has been a mainstay in the community, with ministries and initiatives that seek the flourishing of all New Yorkers. It was this inspiring vision that shaped the mural concept—what better symbol of refuge, rootedness, sustenance, diversity, growth, and connectedness than a vibrant, singular Tree of Life?

There are over fifty symbols, or “Easter eggs,” woven into this Tree of Life design. They are divided into four categories: Redeemer History, Upper East Side, New York City, and Biblical Themes.

The Process

This project began with an exploratory meeting in June 2022, followed by a creative kick-off nearly two years later in May 2024, after months of detailed pre-planning. The artwork took approximately four months to design and another two months to install, wrapping up in late November 2024. We collaborated with projection artist Craig Winslow, using a series of short-throw projectors to trace the mural artwork onto the wall by hand—a technique that proved highly effective in navigating scaffolding and other spatial constraints. The following months were devoted to painstakingly painting the mural with a skilled team of five to six artists.

“Dana and her team thoughtfully understood the needs of our organization and presented a creative solution. The resulting Tree of Life captures the spirit of our ministry for the City and history at Redeemer East Side. Dana’s mural will remain a centerpiece of our home at East 91st Street for decades to come.”
— James Herring, Elder and Real Estate Chair, Redeemer East Side
A person standing on a ladder painting a colorful mural on a wall that features flowers, plants, birds, and an owl.
A woman painting colorful abstract shapes on a large white wall.
Artist working on a large wall mural featuring lush leaves, flowers, an owl, a bird, and berries. The artist is kneeling and painting near the floor, with a step ladder nearby.
A man painting a colorful floral mural on a wall in a stairwell.
A woman is painting a mural of tree roots on the wall beneath a staircase, while a person on the stairs is working on the upper part of the wall or railing.
Person painting a colorful mural of flowers and foliage on a wall, standing on steps next to a ladder.
Woman standing on stairs in a modern, well-lit building, smiling, holding a rope, with art supplies and construction materials nearby.
Interior of a building with large windows, a colorful floral and peacock mural on the wall, and a staircase. A group of five people are standing near the mural, possibly discussing or working on a project.
Paint palettes with multicolored paint, empty paint containers, a cardboard box with used paint tubes, a paper bag with red text, and paper with colorful designs on a table surface.
A ladder is placed over a colorful wall mural of a stylized tree with swirling roots, leaves, and small plants, with a person's legs visible in the top right corner.
A jar filled with various paintbrushes and an open snack bag with a cartoon character on it, placed among other art supplies.
A person working on a mural or wall art installation on a large colorful floral and geometric patterned wall, with scaffolding and a ladder in an indoor space.

“The inspiration for this installation came after an awe-inspiring visit in early 2022 to a 16th-century Augustinian monastery in Malinalco, Mexico." —Dana Tanamachi

Intricate floral and vine patterns painted on the ceiling and wall of a historic building.
A woman with dark hair styled in a half-up bun, wearing a colorful floral dress, holding a piece of paper and speaking into a microphone, standing in front of a white wall with text that says "Thank You!" and social media information.

The Inspiration

The inspiration for this installation came after an awe-inspiring visit in early 2022 to a 16th-century Augustinian monastery in Malinalco, Mexico. What I encountered at the Parroquia del Divino Salvador stayed with me—once-colorful walls adorned with winding, almost hallucinatory murals painted during the colonial era by Indigenous artists. These murals seamlessly blended religious iconography with native flora and fauna. I was especially inspired by the many playful elements and hidden surprises tucked into the dense foliage. These ancient works became the jumping-off point for my own Tree of Life, which eventually evolved into something uniquely shaped by my personal style and aesthetic.

The Celebration

To celebrate the completion of such an undertaking, I hosted a small mural preview event at Redeemer East Side for friends, clients, and colleagues. It was a joy to guide everyone through the space, share the vision and inspiration behind the art, and toast to the hard work of my incredible team. 

Looking back, this project felt like turning the impossible into a reality—a vibrant tree stretching up multiple stories into the Manhattan skyline, pulsing with vitality, history, memories, hopes for the future, and so much more. It was my honor to bring this Tree of Life to life and to share it with everyone.

Two women hugging and smiling at an indoor event, with a man smiling in the background.
A group of four people, two men and two women, are greeting each other with smiles and handshakes in a well-lit indoor setting, likely at a social or professional event.
Three people standing at a round table smiling at the camera, holding colorful fans, with a woman wearing a floral dress and two men wearing jackets, in an indoor event setting.
Three women smiling and posing together indoors, with a large flower arrangement and other guests in the background.
A group of people gathered indoors, listening to a woman in a floral dress who is speaking and gesturing towards a colorful wall mural with trees, animals, and butterflies.
A woman in a colorful floral shirt is signing a poster for an event at a white round table.

Take a Tour

Buckle up and take a warp-speed journey up through the tree’s many levels. Watch how the artwork evolves on the ascent from the roots below up to the highest branches. Can you find any of the hidden symbols?

Credits

  • Redeemer East Side: Carter Hinckley, James Herring, Julie Botset

  • STUDIOS Architecture: Joshua RIder, Eliana Weiner, Mary DeLaurentis

  • Matt Shackleford, Conjure Collective

  • Craig Winslow

  • Liz Maycox, Yuka Ezoe, Gabe Hurier, Ryan Hagan, Yvonne Olivas, Kristen Mills

  • Trey Hicks, Matthew Chang