Willow Snake by Alastair Heseltine in Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden Photo by Sharon Kallis
In 2013, the Community Arts Council of Vancouver commissioned artist and weaver Alastair Heseltine to create a green willow sculpture in honour of the Chinese year of the Water Snake. The piece was built over a period of five days in January behind the Firehall Theatre in the downtown east-side of Vancouver with the help of numerous community members.
The 60 foot snake was then paraded through Chinatown before being installed in the Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden. As the willow was still living material, the snake began to sprout new shoots as spring weather arrived. Eventually, it was removed from this location and placed in the Means of Production Garden where it now is gradually returning to the earth.
I was present for the entire process and was able to document the project for a short entitled “Willow Snake”.
Immersive film making. Photo by Sharon Kallis
This year, Van Dusen Garden followed up the Earth Art show of 2012 with “Touch Wood”, curated by Celia Duthie and Nicholas Hunt. I was interested in following the process of Alastair Heseltine again, documenting the process of building a large willow sculpture on site. I am now in the editing process of this short film.
Filming Salix Iterum in Van Dusen Gardens – Photo by Alastair Heseltine
Martin Borden 