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SATURDAY JUNE 28TH (TIMES TBA)// PLANTING DONATED PERENNIALS, WEEDING;
THURSDAY JULY 17TH (6-8PM) // TREE TOUR with BRONWYN CHESTER;
SATURDAY JULY 19TH (10-12PM) // TREE TOUR with BRONWYN CHESTER;
//TREE TOUR DETAILS: 514.284.7384 / bronwynchester@gmail.com //
//(50% of proceeds support The Roerich Garden)//
The Roerich Symbol brings together the idea of nature and culture and is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. Russian artist, mystic and peace activist Nicholas Roerich developed it to become an internationally recognized symbol to protect historical, cultural and scientifically valuable monuments. Intended to prevent aerial bombing in WWII Europe, it was installed on rooftops of museums, churches and universities. The three centre circles within this symbol are found in primordial cultures worldwide and represent the interconnected nature of life.
The Roerich Garden is a site-specific earthwork in progress, located in one of the last undeveloped pieces of land in the Plateau-Mont-Royal. Owned by Canadian Pacific Railway, this vacant meadow is highly used and valued by the community for the natural refuge that it provides. The field and many neighboring residences and businesses will be sacrificed for municipal development, and are slated for a demolition that is said to begin in 2009-2010. Construction plans are said to extend St-Viateur further east, a part of the city's 9M$ makeover for the Maguire district in the Mile End.
Neighbouring the field is a Carmelite nun's residence, still in use. While researching the site, city maps revealed that the Carmelite property is surrounded by a vast protected zone. This area is governed by Heritage Canada's more highly regulated conditions regarding the way developments proceed. Within the perimeters of this zone lies the meadow.
This project seeks to:
i- Engage with the meadow creatively to demonstrate to the city that people still care about this space
ii- Valorize this living space before it is forgotten in silence
iii- Draw attention to the city's plans and provoke dialogue
iv- Reclaim the commons, activate un-used urban spaces, re-enchant oneself with the natural world and living systems of the urban core
v- Invite others to plant similar ideas in their own environments where needed.
Sprout Out Loud! is an on-growing gardener's ensemble, that evolves seasonally. The project seeks to support and develop the relationship of residents to the land around them. Borne from the Roerich Garden and launched in April 2008, the planting and working bee of June 7th will be the fourth event ever.
