Our Site

When creating the proposal for this project, we were asked to consider a site for the final piece to be installed.  It seemed a natural choice to pick an area that could use some creative inspiration.  Myself and my art colleagues are part of a collaborative group of teachers at the school who are working to transform the back asphalt patch which is currently underused into something new.  We have been challenging students and staff to re-imagine, re-claim and re-create an outdoor space.  This process has included surveys and discussions as well as gathering information from various stakeholders.  We envision a space that will act as a multipurpose area for students to meet socially, outdoor performance/event area and learning space.  This vision includes a "greening" of the space involving sustainable and indigenous materials.  We see the public art project as key to this space.  The site planning is moving slower than the public art project and as such it becomes an interesting issue as there is at this time no landscape designer in place.  The art will in part dictate some of the design.  We have choices to make - will the piece be a functional part of the space i.e. seating?  Will it be conceptual? Interactive? Free standing? Will it involve light? What materials will be used? Where will it be placed?  Most importantly, how will the design reflect the students who will use the space? As the other pieces of the landscape design fall into place, we will work collaboratively to create an integrated visual approach. The artwork may have to wait to be permanently installed or be installed temporarily in an alternate location as work gets underway. We can't wait for the transformation to begin.