Decaying Wood Sculpture Returns to the Forest
Berkeley the Squirrel, the beloved wooden artwork that charmed visitors of Nash Square for nearly five years, has been removed from public display due to advanced decay. The sculpture, carved from a historic oak tree, was deinstalled this month and symbolically returned to nature.
Originally created in 2020 by artist Corey Lancaster, Berkeley was a temporary public art project commissioned by the City of Raleigh. The sculpture was crafted from a massive 90-foot willow oak that once stood on Martin Street, across from the iconic Berkeley Café. At 85 inches in diameter and estimated to be 120 years old, the tree was well known in downtown Raleigh for its sprawling roots and storm-weakened limbs, which led to its removal in 2019.
Lancaster, a North Carolina-based chainsaw artist, transformed the trunk into a whimsical squirrel figure that quickly became a favorite among parkgoers. But this spring, city officials determined that the sculpture’s weathering and internal rot posed a safety concern. The squirrel was moved to Raleigh Park's Marsh Creek Operations Center. Because of his condition, he won't be on view to the public while he turns to mulch.
“Berkeley was always intended to be a temporary piece,” said Adam Forman, Assistant Director of Raleigh Parks. “His return to the woods is a fitting end to a story that began with nature and celebrates transformation.”
Though Berkeley the Squirrel may be gone from the square, his legacy remains rooted in the memories of those who paused to admire him.
