The object of this installation was to transform the grey cement seating blocks of the new Hackett Park Amphitheatre into an attractive, inviting, inspirational space. I started by applying a white primer coat, just like an artist’s canvas. After that came the base coats which are a gradient. Each block is unique with greens and earthy tones on the edge blocks, shifting and becoming brighter towards the middle. Community volunteers, from the very young (with some supervision) to seniors and experienced artists, then came out to paint patterns of their choice in lighter colours, thereby created a monochromatic effect within each block. (Some stencils were available for inspiration, paper for planning and chalk for participants to plan their design before going at it with paint.) This was a fun and exciting activity. We are all so pleased with the results which combine individual expression with an overall cohesive appearance. Next, to connect the blocks they were overlaid by a larger and darker pattern with a theme of frequencies. This started with waves on the lowest row and DNA on the second row. Higher up a braided pattern and block shaped tapestry were introduced to interrupt the horizontal block pattern, and then algorithms were added. Basically our reality is made up of waves, sound waves, light waves, frequencies, patterns and algorithms. We are also all connected symbolized by the tree roots, mycelium network linking directly to the heartbeat and then onto the next tree. The final step was to add an element of she shashishalhem in the form of words and phrases related to greetings and gatherings. We had a workshop with Rita Poulsen on June 27th to learn how to properly pronounce some phrases in she shashishalhem and to collaborate on which words we wanted to include in the mural. I am grateful to the Sechelt Nation for their cooperation and guidance with this. The she shashishalhem phrases are sprinkled throughout on the blocks, to be viewed when seated and from a closer distance. (The stencils created are reusable so that the language can be put elsewhere in the community. After the mural they would be donated.) On the smaller end blocks there is a QR code that links to my website with explanation and a time lapse video. There is also a link to shishalh.com where anyone can go to learn how to pronounce the greeting phrases and other she shashishalhem words including the (new?) road signs. I feel that is the missing link, language needs to not only be seen, but also heard; and then it can be learned! The overall design reveals a heart when you are looking from the perspective of the stage. Here the viewer will see how everything connects, the trees are growing into the mural, and there is a heart shape that emerges with a heartbeat pattern (another frequency.) From other vantage points you will not see the whole image.
The Goldeneye lives on in the Golden Ratio Art Installation
The designs are inspired by mathematics in nature. Throughout the universe there are uncanny patterns that emerge which we are able to describe through mathematical equations such as the fibonacci sequence, sacred geometry , the flower of life and so on. It is one of the great mysteries of the universe, how a snail and a hurricane can have the same spiral shape. Here I am trying out different ways to visually represent this phenominame. I prefer the duality between the clean graphic patterns and the chaotic nature of the world. Despite the chaos of the universe there is a means to find order in patterns and repetition and ultimately rhythm. As a play on words I thought of this notion of “Algae - Rhythm” as a reference of the rhythm of nature compared to the algorithms of the digital world. Fibonacci theme is throughout the design in all the swirls and the flower of life pattern. It's as if the whales are jumping out of this world of precise numbers and patterns and into the west coast aquatic ecosystem, which is still full of patterns as the kelp weaves itself together. The pattern and repetition represents the duality of life as chaotic and orderly.
Laying the structure for the art installation in The Tranquility Garden
We realized that we couldn’t use the wall for a mural as we had initially planned. So we had to come up with a new plan. The initial thought was to build some kind of a wall. I have worked for many years in the film industry, so the idea of a fake wall would really feel phoney. I also was worried about what material we would use, painting on wood in this wet climate is never a good idea, if you want it to last for a while. What happens is that the wood inevitably absorbs moisture just like a sponge and then the paint starts to peel off as the wood expands.
Out of the blue I had an idea to use the sails from my sailboat which had been sadly dismasted by a 55ft powerboat earlier in the summer. The mast lay in two pieces and was destined for the dump until I convinced that the mast could live on as an art installation and the sails would become the substrate for a mural!
Although this was a great solution, it created a slew of other structural challenges we had to solve first. Luckily we had a number of very skilled and enthusiastic volunteers who were able to help me engine the structure needed to tension and raise the sails. Over several days we dug the holes for sauna tubes, mixed cement and built a foundation for 3 wooden posts that would be connected by wire and then tensioned with turnbuckles.
Original Design for Madeira Park Mural at the Tranquility Gardens
Original design for Mural for Madeira Park at the Tranquility Garden. I start out with a pencil sketch and then do a revised draft to add more contrast and colour. By superimposing the design on the wall we can get an idea of how the design acts in the public space. Murals are so large and each setting is unique, I find it's very important to consider the viewer and the range of vantage points of the work of art. I love to work on a large scale because of the impact on the space and through the use of patterns in the composition to create a rhythmic visual flow.
Unfortunately we were unable to use the wall so we had to go back to the drawing board and improvise a new art creation for this special community space!
To be continued….
Thunderbird Community Centre
