Rooted in Art is an annual celebration of Charlottetown's beautiful urban forest. Normally, the initiative involves local artists creating art installations in City trees. The project allows participants to see trees through the eyes of local artists, observing and interacting with these essential assets in new ways. Unfortunately, this year Hurricane Fiona blew through just days before install was set to take place, knocking down many of Charlottetown's beloved trees and preventing the initiative from proceeding as usual. Instead, the City teamed up with the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre to display the four works of art. We invite you to wander through the building and connect with each installation and reflect on why trees are so important. Installations will be up from Monday, November 14 until Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Watch the following video to learn more about why the urban forest is so important and see below to learn more about the projects involved in Rooted in Art 2022!
Artist: Hannah Gehrels
Project: This is Why
Hannah Gehrels (they/them) is an ecologist, educator, facilitator, and artist. Hannah spent many years studying frogs, songbirds, Pacific salmon, bees, and invasive green crabs where they established their love and curiosity for the natural world. After that, they founded the PEI Wild Child Forest School Programs, which is a play-based, inquiry-driven, and child-led recreational program designed to connect children and youth with the natural world through play. Hannah’s art is inspired by their relationship with the natural world, and they have worked with various mediums including poetry, collage, and graphic recording.
From spending the last 14 years working outside in close relation to the natural world, Hannah’s project This is Why speaks to the importance of protecting urban forests for future generations and demonstrates the interconnectedness between human lives and the life of urban forests. This installation has been created in collaboration with children who love to play and explore in Victoria Park.
Artist: Willow Davidson
Project: Eternal Heart
Willow Davidson is a Creatrix and visionary living in an enchanting cottage on Epekwitk, the traditional and unceded territory of the Abegweit Mikmaq First Nation. Working with traditional and modern art tools and techniques her artwork blends science, art and nature. Her desire is to create works that celebrate the joy of creativity while leaving a legacy of giving back to the world that inspires her.
Eternal Heart is a love letter to trees and the role they play in our ecosystems. The installation is created from found natural objects ranging from driftwood, bark, fallen forest sticks, moss, twigs, pinecones, and branches. The piece celebrates that trees are at the heart of our urban forest and an essential part of the ecosystems that inhabit our rural and urban spaces.
Instagram: @thrivingmoon Website: www.thrivingmoon.com
Artist: K Shawn Larson
Project: Maple Leaf Moments
As a child, Shawn spent her days exploring the forests and fields of her family's farm. Her grandparents, who were working artists, lived nearby. Whether Shawn was watching her family paint, plant gardens, care for animals, or simply enjoying the beautiful forests and land, she knew she wanted to capture these moments. At home on PEI, Shawn's an avid painter. At times, these paintings bring attention to the environment: perhaps a wooded path shaded by trees, or watercolours of plants that add beauty and sometimes event food to wildlife nearby. Shawn hopes that by capturing these treasured moments in time she may help us al realize what we stand to lose if we are not more careful. Shawn's delight tends towards natural history in much of her art.
Trees are essential for providing shade, creating wildlife habitats, and sequestering carbon, and much more. Throughout history they have also been important as symbols and emblems. Maple Leaf Moments includes a series of watercolour maple leaves that highlight the importance of maple trees throughout Canadian history.
Artists: Gloria Wooldridge & LiliAnne Webster
Project: Ode to a Tree
From the time she won a neighbourhood art contest at the age of six, colour has been a driving force in Gloria Wooldridge’s life. This self-taught artist from Prince Edward Island transitioned from jewelry making and poetry to acrylic painting, then watercolour and line.
Her skill and style is constantly evolving as she boldly creates with vivid colour, determined to translate the beauty of colour from heart to canvas, depicting abstract florals, or while capturing the essence of the gentle rolling hills, beaches, and water scenes of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province.
Gloria considers her greatest title is that of Mom to her two daughters and Nanny to Max. She is a former board member of the PEI Crafts Council, a juried member of the PEI Crafts Council, won a Canada-wide DeSerres art competition, and has been featured on the cover of The Buzz. Her artwork can be found at various locations around PEI.
Gloria is currently developing a curriculum for “Art for the Health of it” artist mini-retreats, focusing on the need for creativity for wellness and plans to work with local businesses to help employees recognize art and creativity as stress/coping tools.
LiliAnne Webster is a visual artist based in Charlottetown, who grew up in rural PEI. She works in many different mediums, including watercolour, acrylic and Linocut. LiliAnne also creates functional and decorative pieces from driftwood and textiles, finding inspiration for her work from nature. She has two diplomas from Holland College in the fields of graphic design and fashion design. As a lifelong learner she continues to take classes and workshops to enhance her creative practice. She has been part of group shows and exhibitions at The Guild, Eptek Art and Culture Centre, Georgetown Theatre, and Receiver. LiliAnne had a solo show at The Guild, featuring her pen and ink work.
Incorporating the work of both artists, Ode to the Tree sets an intention for positivity to surround this tree. As humanity, nature, and creativity are all connected, the artists believe that positive actions and intentions bring positive results.
Instagram: @G.Wooldridge.Art @lilianne.webster.art