Tree-to-Drum Project drums. Photo: Martin Zamora / LAC

West African-style drums created from displaced trees along Crenshaw Blvd. Photo: Metro

Performers from Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Photo: Joseph Lemon / Metro

Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas with performers from Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Photo: Martin Zamora / LAC

It has been more than two years since the groundbreaking on the Crenshaw/LAX Line and construction is underway up-and-down the 8.5-mile route.

As with many other large-scale projects, some trees had to be removed to clear the way for construction. Thanks to suggestions from the community, the trees did not go to waste. Instead, Metro enlisted the help of World Stage, an educational and performance arts gallery in Leimert Park, and formed the Tree-to-Drum Project. As the name implies, wood from trees removed was used to make drums.

The first 40 drums were made from Canary Island pine trees on Crenshaw Blvd. and were donated to local community arts, music and dance organizations during the Crenshaw/LAX Community Leadership Council meeting on Monday night.

The video below was filmed last summer before the drums were manufactured and provides more detail about the concept behind the Tree-to-Drum Project.

The community organizations that received the drums were KAOS Network, Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center, Musicians in Action, Lula Washington and World Stage. The handmade West African-style drums were manufactured at Motherland Music in Inglewood.

Members from the local organizations performed with the drums during Monday night’s meeting:

Drums from the Tree-to-Drums Project provided the rhythm during Monday night's CLC meeting. pic.twitter.com/MAmTmZmN0m

— Crenshaw/LAX Rail (@crenshawrail) February 24, 2016