Mary and Moses….religious connotations? Well maybe. Certainly nothing too dogmatic. Perhaps spiritual is a better, broader, more inclusive word….maybe you would even call it Pantheistic if you were lucky enough to find yourself in Mary’s forest garden this weekend. Mary was Mary Martin, the owner of the property, recently deceased. Moses from the name of the street. Christine Clark, currently resident, turned the place into a sculpture garden.
Eight artists had accepted her invitation to create al fresco. Inspired by the beauty of the location they rose to the challenge and produced some remarkable responses. Debora Alanna’s white assemblages looked perfect in the pond…like an opalescent Monet…the sunlight helped.
Some Amish Kapoor blue objects in the grass by Tyler Hodgins suggested a tent city seen from a plane window. Todd Lambeth’s row of stakes, coloured from black to white provided a sharp counterpoint to the lush abandon of the natural surroundings.
Christine Clark’s giant cabbage surprised everyone.
So did the readymade
oil tank. Not sure who should get the credit for that…
We stopped for wine. And a chat. And more wine. Then it was back into the garden. Some of us were stumbling a bit at this point but we pressed on. And there to our amazement was a Luna/Welch installation….
A classroom in the woods. You don’t see that every day. Elyse Portal had attached some clay pipe-like things in the trees. Bizarre at first sight but we took it in our stride.
And there on some steps leading down to the beach Troi Donnelly had juxtaposed some bright plastic objects. Twisted words on closer inspection. Nobody questioned it. We sensed instinctively it was all part of the great cosmic scheme.
I’m told Michael Jess buried a time capsule as part of a performance. We were shown the spot. The earth had clearly been disturbed. And suddenly there we were back at the house. Everybody agreed it had been a most enjoyable tour.
One wonders what timid forest creatures would make of it all. (I know Christine has a rodent problem so I must be careful here) Do they come out at night and stand in awe of human accomplishment? Or do they see these creations as convenient places to nest? Bela may well know the answer but he isn’t telling.
It was all quite magical and I hope I haven’t left anybody out. The Spirit of place was everywhere….that indefinable something that is so much a part of the Pacific Northwest. Definitely a spiritual experience. It wouldn’t have been a big surprise to see a troupe of playful fauns emerging from the bush.
The Mary and Moses Sculpture Garden Show
July 22,23 & 24, 2011
Moses Pt. Rd., North Saanich
Victoria, BC Canada
i've seen little tiny elfin people sometimes.
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