In 2005 , Tobin installed what is perhaps his best known work , '' Trinity Root '' , originally placed at St. Paul 's Chapel in Lower Manhattan , New York City . During the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center , the chapel had been partly shielded from damage by a 70-year-old sycamore tree . He created a bronze sculpture of the tree 's stump and roots , which now sits in front of the church on the corner of Wall Street and Broadway . Tobin financed the $ 330,000 sculpture himself , taking out a home equity loan to do so . In December 2015 , Trinity Church , who owns the sculpture under an agreement with Tobin , moved the piece from its former location to the site of the church 's conference center in West Cornwall , Conn. without the artist 's consent . The decision has created controversy , with the artist claiming that the removal was unjustified and damages resulted
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Steve Tobin