FDV sculpture unveiled

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This article was published 02/10/2017 (3131 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The landscape in Whittier Park is now looking a bit different.

On Sept. 21, Festival du Voyageur unveiled its new sculpture called We Dream of Flying Canoes by artist David Perrett.

The work was sculpted from the remains of an old landmark elm tree, which is believed to be more than 200 years old, that is located between Fort Gibraltar and the Maison Chaboillez in the park.

It pays homage to the legends of flying canoes that can be found in many North American cultures and will also feature a phosphorescent resin that will glow for hours after 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.

“I had 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 told The Lance in July during the sculpting process.

“As a sculptor, I always like to use something’s exiting 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.”

In a news release, Festival acknowledged the support of the City of Winnipeg and Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) who helped secure a grant of around $16,000 to help transform the tree. As well, these funds will enable the creation of an educational program that will offer interpretive and pedagogical opportunities for Fort Gibraltar’s summer and winter school and public programs, organizers say.