Stillwater - A Wellspring of Life (2009)
Gwen Boyle
Lotus Condominium, 7371 Westminster Hwy.
Area:
City Centre
Location:
At the corner of Alderbridge Way and Westminster Hwy.
Photo: City of Richmond
Materials:
Glass, concrete, water and slate, text, sandstone, LED lights.
Program: Private
Ownership: Private
Sponsored By: Cressey
Description of Work
The building's water feature is lined with images and poetry, cast in stone and slate, together commemorate the slough that once existed on this property.
Artist Statement
Each public art project I have done has deepened my understanding of our planet, its ecosystem, biodiveristy and its relevance to all life. A slough on the site that was buried in concrete and glass was the inspiration for the artwork.
Earth is a blue planet... microscopic organisms drift and churn in all its water: the seas, ponds, even in water puddles and sloughs. They appear as fine dust of life that remain on surface of waters; invisible spores of diatoms, needing only the touch of warming sun and salt minerals to repeat the magic of spring and renewal.
A circular glass of drifting diatoms is held suspended on a sandstone wall, its significance to life on earth is further rendered in a line of text.
The two calligraphic words in Chinese are from the writings of Lao Tsu: "water gives life to the ten thousand things."
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