MEDIA INVITED
A Tree "Cozy" and a Giant Cedar Orb to Be Installed in Stanley Park

July 3, 2009 (No. 17) - Imagine walking in the Stanley Park forest and coming upon a giant six foot cedar orb nestled in the remnants of a fallen ancient tree or discovering a storm damaged fir tree cloaked in an afghan "knitted" from hundreds of wooden cookies. That is what park visitors will find after artists install these unique works in Stanley Park 's forest. The Vancouver Park Board, the Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Community Arts Council of Vancouver are presenting the installation of two very unique new installations as part of a two-year Stanley Park Environmental Art Project: Cozy by Shirley Wiebe and Cedar by the artist team of John Hemsworth and Peter von Tiesenhausen.

Media are invited to watch the artists at work. Interviews and photo opportunities will also be available at this time.

2pm
Wednesday, July 8
Meet at the Parking Lot Adjacent to the Stanley Park Service Yard
Pipeline Road

Cozy takes the form of a large-scale afghan, a healing gesture that surrounds and nurtures what remains of a Douglas fir. This work is located west off South Creek Path, north of the Rose Garden. With Cedar, a six-foot diameter orb made of cedar wood from the park, the artists wanted to accentuate the mass, the length and the essence of a fallen ancient tree. The installation of Cedar, which is currently under construction at the Service Yard, will take place on Monday, July 13 and will be located on the east side of Lover's Walk just south of the junction with Squirrel Trail.

The Stanley Park Environmental Art Project was developed in reply to the overwhelming public response to the impact of the windstorms of 2006. A program of discussions and hands-on workshops will create opportunities for everyone to engage with nature through art and help explore a new relationship with our natural environment.

For more information on the Stanley Park Environmental Art Project, please visit our website at vancouver.ca/spea or contact Community Arts Programmer, Anna Nobile at 604-257-8479 or anna.nobile@vancouver.ca.

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Project Partners:

Project Funders:

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 220 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.