There’s a dream of flying canoes at Whittier Park

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This article was published 30/07/2017 (3321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Whittier Park landscape will soon include a flying canoe.

Festival du Voyageur recently announced that sculptor David Perrett has been chosen to transform the old elm tree that is located between Fort Gibraltar and the Maison Chaboillez in the park.

Last year, the landmark tree, which is believed to be more than 200 years old, was diagnosed with Dutch elm disease, and to avoid cutting it down, Festival and the City of Winnipeg came to an agreement to transform the tree’s trunk into a public art piece that is open and accessible year-round.

Organizers say Perrett’s winning submission — which has the working title of We dream of flying canoes — was chosen by a selection committee after a rigorous submission process. Perrett is working with co-creator Chris Spilak on the project.  

Perrett, who grew up in Winnipeg and has lived in Hamilton, Ont., for the last three years, said he wanted his design to evoke a sense of youthful play, as well as pay tribute to the history of the landscape and give a nod to the iconography of the canoe.

“I have a lot of memories of this tree from growing up in Winnipeg and these memories generally involve some form of play, whether it’s running around it or hiding behind it,” Perrett, 36, said.   

“As a sculptor, I always like to use something’s existing form, so I thought about how I could make the design a playful gesture. I also thought about First Nations legends and voyageur themes to encompass a broad spectrum of canoes,” he added, noting the sculpture will represent a child’s hand as it begins to throw a canoe in the air.

He said the design will include a special resin that will glow after the sunset, and in recognition of the traditional territorial rights of the Cree and Saulteaux First Nations, the clan totems used to sign the 1817 Selkirk Treaty will be carved into the piece.

This is Perrett’s second project working with Spilak, and the design process has been ongoing since mid-May. The scaffolding surrounding the tree went up on July 19, the carving began on July 20, and the goal is for the project to be unveiled late September or early October, he said.

Perrett said part of the beauty of this particular project is that “everything that has happened to this tree dictates its form.”

“When you’re carving, you discover features and flaws of the tree, so the idea of object history very much comes in to play. For example, there are pieces where the trunk has joined together and there are pieces that have died off. Even the first six inches of wood is older than I am,” Perrett said.

In a news release, Festival’s executive director Ginette Lavack Walters said she is excited by Perrett’s proposal to transform the tree.

“This art piece is youthful and playful and pays homage to a legend that can be found in many North American cultures, that of a flying canoe that awakens the imagination and the spirit. The sculpture will also present our summer and winter school programs as well as our year round public programs with several interpretive opportunities,” Lavack Walters said.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com