terraculture

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Hi all

The Field

(now belongs to the city!)

There have been some major changes and positive developments concerning the field, which I thought would be important to share. Last Monday, at the conseil d'arrondissement, the burrough of Plateau Mont-Royal confirmed the acquisition of the 'field' from the Canadian Pacific. It was bought for 1$, with 4,7$ million needed to decontaminate the terrain according to standard procedure.

The Roerich Garden

Is officially surrendering to the weeds, though its geometry of rocks still lies below the surface of wilderness. Many of the willow cuttings that were planted in the outer ring of the circle have survived and are growing well. Updates to come. Feel free to contact me if you would like to help out in the Roerich Garden throughout July and August.

The weekend

(Come on out this Sunday from 2-5)

The Solstice Festival, that had initially been proposed to happen on Saturday, June 20th, has been cancelled. Instead, join us on Sunday June 21 ( 2-5pm ) for a planting party. Please spread the word to your friends and bring the odd pitchfork or spade. Please join me and bring any non-fussy, high growing, colourful flower seeds that will stand up against the wilderness of the summer vegetation. I'm putting in the last of my sunflower, morning glory and hollyhock seeds against the fences. This is a kid-friendly event, and picnics are encouraged.

The summer

I will be out of the city for work/research for the month of July and August, but will continue my communications and blog updates while away. Regular events will continue throughout the season, so please stay tuned as to the whens, wheres and whats here: www.emilyrosemichaud.com. Feel free to contact me if you have art projects or guided walks related to this space and issues that are dear to you.

The book

We are still working on the book and the first phase is to put everything online. If you had agreed to be a contributor, please send me your revised and/or final edits if you want them to be included. We want to document everyone's stories, memories, inspiring initiatives that are making cities more interesting to live in, etc.
The online draft version can be found here: roerichproject.artefati.ca

Take care, hope to see you on Sunday!

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www.emilyrosemichaud.com

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Sprout Out Loud!

Sprout Out Loud! is a gardener's ensemble that seeks to support and develop the relationship between residents and the land around them. The project seeks to stimulate citizen engagement and provoke dialogue around the importance of the commons through workshops, community events and presentations.

From 2008-2010 Sprout Out Loud! occupied Le Champ des Possibles in order to:

- Draw attention to the city's plans and provoke dialogue about how the space was to be developed (it worked :)

- Engage with the meadow creatively and document how people use and care about this space (see our book with Artefatica).

- Reclaim the commons, activate unused urban spaces, re-enchant the public with the natural world and living systems of the urban core.

- Empower people and invite others to plant similar ideas in their own environments where needed.

le Pouvoir Aux Pousses!

Le Pouvoir aux Pousses est une équipe bourgeonnante de jardiniers qui cherchent à appuyer et développer les relations entre les résidents et la terre autour d’eux.

Ce projet vise à:

- Avoir un rapport créatif avec le champs et en documenter l’usage et l’attachement des gens

- Mettre en valeur cet espace vivant avant qu’il ne disparaisse dans l’oubli

- Porter à l’attention de tous les plans de la Ville et engager un dialogue

- Réclamer les espaces urbains, animer les terrains vagues et ré-enchanter le public avec le monde vivant et naturel du centre urbain

- Stimuler les autres à faire germer ces idées dans leur propres environnements

The Roerich Garden Project

Sprout Out Loud's first project — the Roerich Garden — was a site-specific earthwork located in the Maguire Meadow (2007-2011), one of the last undeveloped pieces of land in the Plateau Mont Royal. Once owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, it was acquired by the city in June 2009. This meadow is used and cherished by the community because it is a free and unregulated space (in practice). No need to ask for permission to grow things there, create art, or gather.

In 2008 some plans were proposed for the field and some neighboring residences and businesses were to be sacrificed in the process of developing the land. There was talk of building a 'cour de voirie' on this site, which would involve decontaminating the field and then building a lot to hold city vehicles. It was a part of the city's 9M$ makeover for the Maguire district in the Mile End.

The Roerich Symbol brings together the idea of nature and culture and is the cultural equivalent of the Red Cross. Russian artist and culture 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 are said to represent art, science and religion.

Le Projet (jardin) Roerich

Le Jardin Roerich — était un aménagement in situ dans le champs Maguire, entre 2007 et 2011, sur un des derniers terrains vagues du Plateau Mont Royal. Jusqu’à récemment propriété du Canadien Pacifique, il a été acquis par la Ville (juin 2009). Ce champs est utilisé et est cher à la communauté parce qu’il est (en pratique) un espace libre et non-régulé. Pas besoin de permission pour y cultiver des plantes, faire de l’art ou se rencontrer autour d’un feu de camp.

Bien que les plans ne soient pas définitifs, le champs et quelques résidences et immeubles voisins pourraient bien être sacrifiés lors du développemnet de l’endroit. Cela est prévu pour 2010. On parle toujours de construire une cour de voirie sur le site, ce qui impliquerait la décontamination du sol puis la construction d’un garage municipal. C’est dans le cadre du projet d’amélioration de $9 million du district Maguire dans le Mile End.

Le symbole Roerich réuni l’idée de la nature et de la culture et est l’équivalent du symbole de la Croix Rouge. Artiste russe, et activiste d'un culture de paix, Nicholas Roerich l’a développé afin qu’il devienne un symbole reconnu internationalement, protégeant les monuments historiques, culturels et scientifiques de valeur. Utilisé pour prévenir les bombardements aérien en Europe lors du Second Guerre Mondiale, on l’installait sur le toit des musées, églises et universités. Les trois ronds au centre du symbole se trouvent dans toutes les cultures primordiales du monde et représentent la nature intereliée de la vie.

terraculture

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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Le Jardin Roerich / The Roerich Garden Project

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august 2012

Sprout Out Loud!

Sprout Out Loud! is a gardener's ensemble that seeks to support and develop the relationship between residents and the land around them. The project seeks to stimulate citizen engagement and provoke dialogue around the importance of the commons through workshops, community events and presentations.

le Pouvoir Aux Pousses!

The Roerich Garden Project

Symbole Roerich

Le Projet (jardin) Roerich