Not many people, it seems, want to tie a yellow ribbon on Marc Baur’s tree.
The tree, made of pipes, was part of Vanishing, a recent exhibit at the Gallery at Artisan Square. Visitors were asked to tie a ribbon to the sculpture. A yellow ribbon indicated they were not concerned about development in the Howe Sound. A blue ribbon indicated that they were concerned.
The gallery soon ran out of blue ribbons.
Now, the tree lives on in its new temporary home, First Credit Union. It will be interesting to see, Baur says, if the branches start to sprout more yellow leaves now that not only art enthusiasts are weighing in.
Baur was one of three landscape artists who contributed to Vanishing. Through their work, he and Georgina Farah and Janet Esseiva wanted people to talk about the issues facing the Howe Sound.
“We have to make mindful decisions because what we have now is very valuable,” he says.
After reading a Globe and Mail article about the Sound’s future, including nine development plans worth more than $15 billion, Baur put the article on display and built the tree, evoking the many pipeline debates.
“I don’t mind I you agree or disagree; just have an opinion,” he says.
