The iconic oak trees lost from Bienville Square after Hurricane Sally have found a second life. Wood salvaged from the storm-damaged trees was transformed into a collection of art pieces by artists from across the region, and the works were put on public display for the first time at downtown Mobile’s Art Walk on Friday, March 11.
Mayor Sandy Stimpson highlighted the project in his nightly message on Wednesday, March 9, noting that he had seen the finished pieces that morning. According to the mayor, craftsmen and artists from around the region used the downed oaks to create woodwork and art that now carries the story of the storm and the square’s beloved canopy.
A Community Effort
The Mobile Arts Council helped bring the project to life, recruiting artists who produced an impressive set of pieces from the salvaged wood. City officials shared photos of some of the works, though they noted those images represented only part of what was created for display.
Hurricane Sally, which came ashore in September 2020, stripped Mobile of many of its mature live oaks, including treasured trees in historic Bienville Square in the heart of downtown. The loss was felt deeply in a city where the squares and their centuries-old oaks are central to local identity.
From Storm Debris to Showcase
Rather than letting the fallen timber go to waste, the city and its arts partners turned it into lasting works that commemorate both the storm and the resilience of the community. The pieces debuted during the March 11 Art Walk, one of downtown Mobile’s regular celebrations of local art and culture.
For longtime Mobilians, seeing the oaks reappear as sculpture and woodworking offered a tangible way to keep a piece of the square’s history alive.