An artist whose works are in private collections and public places around the world will be in town next week to paint the town blue.
Blue Trees will become the second Vancouver Biennale installation in New Westminster, when Australian artist Konstantin Dimopolous and volunteers from the Vancouver Biennale paint trees on Columbia Street, between Church and Fourth streets, on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16. Community members are invited to drop by and chat with the artist, whose Blue Trees have appeared in England, Australia, New Zeland and a number of cities across North America.
Curious about why the Blue Trees are popping up in cities around the world? Community members are invited to drop by Anvil Centre on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m., when Dimopolous will be doing a talk about his philosophy.
A pigmenting party on Sunday, Oct. 18 on the front lawn of city hall is open to community members. It’s taking place from noon to 3 p.m.
“We’d like them to participate. This is a community-based event,” Vancouver Biennale founder and president Barrie Mowatt told the Record. “We’d like them to come out, meet the artist, get their hands blue.”
The trees will be clustered near Sixth Street and Royal Avenue, where community members will be able to help apply blue pigment to their trunks.
“There are going to be about 20 trees,” said Rob McCullough, the city’s manager of cultural services. “They are about 12 feet tall. They are local varieties that are smooth barked.”
The trees will remain on the front lawn of city hall for a period of time, before they’re planted in other parts of the city
“We are hoping they will remain there through springtime,” Mowatt said. “The colour will depend on the rain.”
Mowatt said the installation draws attention to issues like the environment. People will often take notice of an everyday object that’s suddenly blue.
“Blue Trees really talks about being aware, being aware of the changing universe,” Mowatt said.
Mowatt noted that local students are also involved in the Blue Trees project, and Dimopolous will be visiting some schools as part of the Vancouver Biennale project.
Public Furniture/Urban Trees by Brazilian artist Hugo Franca became the first Vancouver Biennale installation in New Westminster when it was installed on the waterfront esplanade in May. Once the Blue Trees are in place, the final installation planned for New Westminster – and the most controversial – is WOW New Westminster by Jose Resende, which consists of four shipping containers positioned in the shape of two Vs.
McCullough said the city has cleared all of the documents submitted by the Vancouver Biennale and is awaiting word about the organization’s intention to install WOW New Westminster at Westminster Pier Park.
“Stay tuned,” Mowatt said about the arrival of WOW New Westminster.
