You’ve seen the sycamore trees in San Francisco’s Civic Center a million times before, but there’s something different: whimsical spirals atop a row of trees that appear to be woven out of branches. Are they giant beehives? Nests of some gargantuan stork? A new form of treehouse?

In fact, these structures are an environmental artwork called The Upper Crust by Patrick Dougherty, created under auspices of the San Francisco Arts Commission. Constructed of 18,000 pounds of willow saplings reclaimed from pruning, these organic sculptures will evolve as the host trees put out leaves and that will grow and change color with the seasons.

According to the press release issued by the San Francisco Arts Commission, “Patrick Dougherty’s incredible sculpture is representative of the Arts Commission’s commitment to enriching our community by bringing some of the world’s most provocative contemporary artists to the Bay Area,” stated Luis R. Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs for San Francisco. “The artist’s masterful synthesis of art and nature makes this sculpture a wonderful symbol of Mayor Newsom’s plan to transform the Civic Center into a global model for a more sustainable future.”

A masterful synthesis of art and nature—now that’s worth a closer look. The Upper Crust will be on view through November 2009 on the south end of Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Piazza across from City Hall. Docent tours of the works are conducted every Tuesday from noon until 1 p.m.

Let us know what you think.

The Upper Crust by Patrick Dougherty. Photo: Perretti & Park Pictures - Courtesy of the San Francisco Arts Commission.