Green Symphony (2011)

Jeanette G. Lee

Richmond Nature Park, 11851 Westminster Hwy.

Area: East Richmond
Location: In the garden boxes beside the public washrooms.

Materials: Powder coated and galvanized welded steel rods.

Program: Community
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: Public Art Reserve

Description of Work

Green Symphony forms a visual melody of vibrant colours, shapes and sizes. There are seven biomorphic forms interspersed throughout the blooming gardens.

Some sculptures are open and airy with laser-cut images of park life or plant life integrated into the welded “mesh-like” fabric of the piece. Other works like "Larva" are solid, organically shaped, and brightly coloured with a richly baked enameled coating on steel.

A viewer may be surprised to see a quietly glistening giant 16 foot web attached near the roofline of the washroom building with a large black steel spider looking for prey.

Artist Statement

"Green Symphony" is an artwork of seven parts.

The overall collective shape of the seven sculptures are reminiscent of notes on a musical score, varying in height, pitch, colour and melody. These sculptures sitting on coloured stems or poles, have individual “crowns” whose themes are the biomes of plants, animal, microscopic and other organic life in the park. These images were resourced from the student drawings, brainstorming sessions at Debeck and Mitchell Elementary, and from the sharing of ideas with the community.

The community was inspired by the complex growth forms of the park existing and relating in a green environment. The Nature Park community focused on the importance of inter-connectiveness between life forms and the life cycles to all parts of nature. The seven themes that emerged from the collaborative work are: WEB, NEST, LIFECYCLE, LARVA, TRACKS, GREEN and FOOTPRINTS.

These sculptures were created in concert with the Richmond Nature Park message centre, which stands at the entrance of this park. It represents the idea of a phylogenetic “tree of life” breathing, pulsating messages and relaying what is happening in the park to onlookers and visitors alike.

Together, this cluster of art is created as a “symphony” of park life images existing in harmony with one another.