LocoMotoArt - Aberthau Garden Projects

BIRD HOUSE GOURD PROJECT

5/24/2018

PHOTO FROM https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/77687162297074018/?lp=true

We've ordered our seeds and soon will be planting a garden with the pre-schoolers to grow, harvest, dry and decorate large gourds to make birdhouses. These birdhouses will be placed around the garden at Aberthau/West Point Grey Community Centre and the nearby urban forest of Jericho Park.

The students got their seeds planted, and afterwards we had a few days of rain and sun. Looking forward to the plants emerging growing strong on the trellis.

EARLY GROWTH CYCLE:

The students planted their birdhouse gourds on June 8 in a light rain. Within the next few days the garden experienced warm sunny days and we have little plants started.

One month from planting and about 8" in height

WHITE CLOVER GARDEN

5/24/2018

The artists left the garden patch to sprout white clover while a drip irrigation system was installed. White clover is a huge attractor of bees. But most importantly this simple green is edible: leaves, stems, flowers, and seed pods. Dried or fresh the leaves and flowers can be used in raw salads or dried and used in baked goods. Often the white clover blossom is dried as a healthy tea.

BUSH BEAN PROJECT

4/21/2017

On April 21, in celebration of Earth Day, the Bush Bean Garden was begun by resident artist Laura Lee Coles. On May Day, May 1, the 4 year old pre-school class plant their beans. What is exciting is the BOUNTIFUL HEIRLOOM will produce beans in 46 days! Watch our progress.

GARDEN PUMPKINS DECORATED FOR HALLOWEEN

10/26/2016

At the conclusion of the season for the pumpkin garden, the students of West Point Grey Pre-School enjoyed decorating the nine pumpkins they grew. With the help of teachers and resident artist Laura Lee Coles, amazing Halloween creations emerged! Photos: Laura Lee Coles

THE FINISHED PUMPKINS.......

PUMPKIN GARDEN PROJECT

7/18/2016

In May, the Pre-schoolers of West Point Grey Community Centre planted 14 starter pumpkin plants in hopes of growing pumpkins to carve into Jack-o-Lanterns this October.

Please enjoy the photographic slide show below depicting the progression of the growth of the pumpkins from planting to final stages.

SLIDE SHOW OF PROGRESS OF THE PUMPKINS

SPRING BULB GARDEN - ABERTHAU GARDEN

5/13/2016

After the success of the Sunflower Garden Project, LocoMotoArt artist Laura Lee Coles planted spring bulbs with the pre-schoolers in November of 2015. It was a frosty day, and the children loved forming three teams of planters and choosing their names: The Transformers, The Raiders and The Princesses. From February - April the garden sported purple crocus, yellow daffodils and a variety of tulips. The children decided not to pick them and leave them up so that everyone could enjoy them. Please see the gallery of photos below depicting the garden throughout the spring growing season.

The final day of the garden: Preparing for the Pumpkin Garden Project: Stay tuned!!!!!

EXHIBITION February 11, 2016 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

2/2/2016

SUNFLOWER GARDEN PROJECT PHOTO EXHIBITION

Please join the resident Aberthau/West Point Grey Fieldhouse Studio artists from Loco Moto Art for a closing celebration of the exhibition of the Sunflower Project.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016
Time: 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Place: Roundhouse main hall
Light refreshments will be served

Artists Laura Lee Coles and Rob Scharein created a pictorial essay depicting the planting of seeds, the sunflower growth cycle, and the harvesting of the sunflower heads. Sunflowers seeds were planted in the Aberthau Community garden in the spring of 2015 with preschool students and in Mid-October the harvested sunflower pods were completely dried to be ready for seeding for the next year. The artists meticulously documented this process and created photo mosaics from the hundreds of photos. A representation of 25 pieces of this work is on display at the Roundhouse. For more info about the project go to http://locomotoart.weebly.com/aberthau

This project was made possible through the support of the Greenest City Neighbourhood small grant awarded by the Vancouver Foundation.

Placemaking + Garden + Children + Families + Knowledge Sharing + Learning New Skills + Bees + Understanding the Life Cycle + Harvesting + Creative Expression + Fun + Memento + Celebration

For Additional Information please see:
http://roundhouse.ca/events/great-hall-gallery-sunflower-garden-project/

OPEN HOUSE EVENT JANUARY 15, 2016

1/5/2016

The artists will be showing a series of interactive and immersive sound and visual installations, including display of photo documentation and digital mosaics of several community engaged projects initiated during 2015. Project such as: Moments of Happiness, The Sunflower Garden and Intertwined Boundaries, which features the work of participant Jill Ineson, will be exhibited. Viewers will also have a special treat to view the traditional straw and flax weaving projects of Brian Jones, whose studio is also at Aberthau. In addition, the artists will show the interactive installation PoSSeSSionZ, shown in April 2013 during Paul Wong’s exhibition, Thru The Trap Door.

Make It Glow: El Wire at Lighting of Aberthau 2015

11/25/2015

LocoMotoArt residency artist, Wynne Palmer, conducted another lantern-making workshop in conjunction with the 2015 Lighting of Aberthau event on evening of November 25 at Aberthau Mansion. Children in the approximate age group of 3-10 years old were guided in the making of simple lanterns with the cold lighting of electroluminescent wire, reflective aluminum cake pans and various art supplies to make unique faux stained glass. The lanterns were then arranged outdoors in time for the grand lighting of the mansion, with an approximate attendance of 300, before the children took their creations home.

In addition to the event, Wynne displayed her lastest El Wire installation on the grounds, titled, "Phantom Limbs". Both the installation and childrens' lanterns were enthuiastically received, and added a fun and unique take on lighting for the holiday season!

Special thanks: Laura Lee Coles (LocoMotoArt) for assisting with the workshop, Danita Noyes (Arts Programming) and Natalie Vermaas (Recreation Programmer II) for the support!

THE SUNFLOWER GARDEN PROJECT - FINAL MOMENTS

7/20/2015

By Mid-October the harvested sunflower heads were completely dried and ready for seeding. On October 14, 2015, Artist Laura Lee Coles met with several 4-year-old students of West Point Grey Community Centre Pre School. Students viewed a pictorial essay depicting the planting of seeds, the sunflower growth cycle, and the harvesting of the sunflower heads. The student's also saw photographs of the various garden visitors such as bees, spiders and grasshoppers, which came into the garden all summer. The students also participated in a hands-on demonstration of seeding of the sunflower heads. After the seeds were gathered, the students joined Laura Lee to explore how wildlife at the mansion seeded the various buds she deliberately left in the garden. The students left several of the harvested dried sunflower heads in the garden on the ground so that the squirrels and birds on the grounds can gather seeds for the winter. The students will return to the garden a few times over the next week to see if the seeds have been eaten. To conclude the session, the students then coloured a sunflower drawing, in preparation of the art exhibition to be held in Mid-November at the conclusion of the Sunflower Garden Project.