My ongoing project to paint 100 Dream Tree murals in 100 places around the globe, marrying both my dreams of being a painter and experiencing life in different places around the world.
10 Dream Trees up, 90 more to go!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
The seed of a dream is first planted, then nurtured with love, until it grows into a sturdy structure that reaches the clouds. This is the Dream Tree, a bridge between life’s practical and aspirational aspects, and connecting our realities with our dreams.
As a traveling mural artist, my dream is to explore and experience as much of the world as I can, and to transform these inspirations into beautiful creations that bring hope and joy to all who see them. On some of these adventures, I leave a permanent wall painting – a celebration of the life, places, stories, and traditions of these communities.
And as I make my way around the world to paint 100 Dream Trees inspired by 100 places and communities, these murals symbolize our universal experiences and interconnectedness, that no matter where we come from, we are bound by our hopes and dreams, and it is by living out these dreams that together we can change the world.
About the Project
As an artist and a creative coach, I stand for us to discover what truly matters to us, and to fulfill our dreams.
The murals of “Project: 100 Dream Trees” are an artistic celebration of each location, featuring specific characteristics of the local community, such as iconic landmarks, traditions, customs, and aspects of daily life.
Where possible, I sometimes facilitate workshops for the local community to connect deeply to their dreams, and express them through painting on tiles / panels / other materials, or on the wall itself. These painted dreams are be incorporated into the mural itself.
Today, there are ten Dream Trees in seven countries: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Read more about each of them in my blog here: https://maryannloo.com/category/100-dream-trees/
Here’s the first one that inspired the initial idea for Project: 100 Dream Trees, painted during my first artist residency in Spain, in June 2018:
My Dream
Just 6 years before I painted the first Dream Tree mural, I didn’t even believe that I could fulfill my childhood dream of becoming an artist. When I was 8 I was discouraged from being an artist. I suppressed my creative side, and felt lost and purposeless for many years. At 29 I reconnected to my artist dream and wanted to pursue it, but I felt it was too late for me.
Then I worked with a life coach, and successfully held my first solo exhibition in 2 months, without formal training in art or managing events. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but it kick-started a dream I had believed was impossible, and showed me that I was capable of creating a life around what truly matters to me.
I believe that every person has a dream, but sometimes we forget who we truly are, and thus we don’t always live the life we’re meant for.
As artist and coach, I stand for us creating the life of our dreams, and living it. Whether you’ve forgotten your dream, or you keep putting it off, or you’re resigned about ever having the life you truly desire… here’s a chance for you to believe in that dream again, and start taking action.
“Project: 100 Dream Trees” reflects my mission as an artist and coach:
To create experiences for people to connect to their dreams, and inspire them or work with them directly to take action toward living the life they truly desire.
The Dream Tree is more than just art that they can admire and appreciate. It’s an experience for people to connect so deeply to their dream as their participate in this project, and having a work of art they co-created which reminds them of it every single day.
To find out more about each Dream Tree…
Read more about each of the Dream Trees in my blog here: https://maryannloo.com/category/100-dream-trees/
Dreamer Friends of “Project: 100 Dream Trees”
Thanks to these Dreamer Friends, I installed six Dream Tree murals in four countries in 2019:
HH Tan, Jeremy Lim, Claire Lim, Abhijit Patwardhan, Colin Lim, TB, Toh Hong Boon, Lawrence Kang, Nina Rahardjo, Ranajay Das, Regina Ong, Chong Su Lee, Grace Lim, Berto, WT, BL, Alphonsus Tan, Gabriel, Low Shao Suan, Kevin Jablonski, IH, Shayne, JC, Brieuc Labiouse, Alina Wong, Ans Teoh, Steven Mok, Ratna Indra Putri, Sarah, SherLeon Foster, John Francis, Loi Su Ling, Vicky Wang, Chae Huah, Alina Wong, Megan Lye, Shihui Cheng, Sifat Rahman, Poh Xing Wei, Chih Hsing, Annabel, JL, Christine Ma, Sambi
THANK YOU for being a part of bringing this dream to life <3