On Sundays in Spring and Fall, 11:30 AM to 1 PM, BEHOLD + Washington Square Park Eco Projects host free drawing sessions at the base of the English Elm. Each session is led by an invited artist who shares drawing techniques with participants or inspires them with prompts to draw from. Free drawing materials and paper are always provided and all ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate!
Tree Wonder is a community eco-art initiative to raise awareness of nature in the city and promote in-person ecological learning. The focus is Manhattan’s oldest tree, the majestic English Elm (Ulmus procera) in Washington Square Park, said to be at least 300 years old. The tree was awarded Great Tree status by the NYC Parks Department in 1985 and again on April 22, 2025.
Our drawing sessions began in the spring of 2022 and our community has since produced over 2,000 drawings of the monumental English Elm! Click here to explore our archive of drawings of this historic tree.