On Tuesday, June 6, at 7 pm come discover the exhilaration of rock balancing and join in the discussions of the inaugural Bowen Island Land Art salon.
Land art (also known as Environmental or Earth art) is “a movement in which landscape and the work of art are inextricably linked.” It is “art that is created in nature, using natural materials such as soil, rock, organic materials, and water, sometimes with introduced materials such as concrete, metal, asphalt, or mineral pigments. Sculptures are not placed in the landscape, rather, the landscape is the means of their creation.”
We believe – and as reflected in the newly-minted Bowen Island Cultural Plan -- that Bowen Island is ideally suited to the creation of Land Art. Land Art could further a host of other desired opportunities on the Island, including locally-based economic and tourist initiatives.
The opportunities for creating Land Art are limited only by one’s imagination and the natural materials at hand. Art can vary from the simplest/smallest creations using leaves, stones, or flowers to large-scale pieces. Materials are often free and found at-hand. Land Art creation is accessible to all ages and demographic groups regardless of background, skills, abilities, or finances.
Come Tuesday June 6th [in the Great Room at Bowen Island Lodge to explore the opportunities for Land Art on Bowen and to help answer a few questions such as:
How can we move Land Art forward on Bowen Island?
What might a concerted initiative look like?
For example, could we host a series of workshops, leading up to a Land Art Festival, and if so what might the events look like, and who wants to help make this happen?
This initiative could theoretically involve all island residents and tourists, including artists, seniors, students, children, youth, and businesses. The project could have natural linkages with established groups such as schools, businesses, and the Garden Club.
Land Art can be thought of as a type of folk art, the reification of our sense of belonging to place, and even as a representation of our beneficent tribalism. On Bowen, a Land Art initiative might start with rock balancing and progress to the creative uses of wood, leaves, water, earth and other abundant natural materials. It might follow a seasonal arc. It could intensely involve our young people. Land Art could tie in to conservation efforts such as rain-barrel water catchment. The only limit is our imagination.
If creating awesome Land Art on Bowen resonates with you please contact us to attend the salon at 7pm on June 6th at the Bowen Island Lodge (followed by rock balancing on the beach). Seating is limited so please reserve your spot. Just bring your excitement and imagination —Nexwlélexwem (Bowen Island) will supply all materials needed.
Contacts:
David Adams, project leader ([email protected] / 604-947-0811)
Chris Corrigan, salon facilitator
Jacqueline Massey, Executive Director, Bowen Island Arts Council
Dave Pollard, Chair, Cultural Master Plan
