CROSSVILLE-The premier of “Tree Safari: The Koa Connection,” a documentary focusing on an Upper Cumberland artist and hosted by the City of Crossville, was a tremendous success, city officials said.

“The Koa Connection,” directed and written by Todd Jarrell and co-produced by WCTE-TV, focused on Cookeville wood sculptor Brad Sells (shown left to right here). It is the second in a series of documentaries about Sells’ work. “Tree Safari: A Sculptural Journey” focused on Sells’ trip to South Africa. “Koa,” distributed by American Public Television, follows Sells’ work his Tennessee studio to the volcanic slopes of Hawaii and the bright lights of a top New York art/design show.

The premier was attended by a standing-room-only crowd earlier this month at the Palace Theatre, with Jarrell, Sells and WCTE General Manager Becky Magura in attendance and part of the program.

“We are just so thrilled to have been able to bring this premier to Crossville and the Palace Theatre,” said Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III. “We are proud to have been a part of that first showing. All those in attendance at the premier and those who will see it on public TV have no doubt about why we wanted to host the premier in Crossville. ‘Koa’ is just a tremendous project. Brad Sells’ work as an artist speaks for itself, and Todd Jarrell’s work in recording his work in these two documentaries is just outstanding.”

Jarrell and Sells both spoke before the documentaries were shown, along with some of Jarrell’s other work, and Sells had a question and answer session after the documentaries were shown.

Magura also spoke at length near the end of the evening. Jarrell and Magura worked together on funding “Koa” and the producer and station partnered on both “Tree Safari” projects.

In 2004, WCTE and Jarrell undertook an ambitious television project, following Sells’ search for exotic woods for his unique sculptures. After two years of travel, production and funding, the Africa-based part one of the series was distributed nationally on PBS, winning both “Telly” and “Aurora” awards. The original “Tree Safari” was one of only three Featured Titles (from over 450) in the 2008 PBS Home Video/Educational catalogue.