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Can you imagine a method of harvesting lumber that is endorsed by both environmental groups and business?

Variable retention practices take into consideration animal habitat and other environmental impacts while considering the bottom line. If you can plan logging cuts to retain animal habitat and prevent soil erosion, why not expand this concept to create an artwork in place of a clear cut; an artwork that reminds us all of the integral connection between human and the landscape?

"Silvae", visually inspired by fossils, will be viewed from ground level. An indigenous image of the earth, the fossil is discovered by removing a layer of the surface of the land and parallels the removal of the trees to create an abstract, yet universally recognizable image on a mountain slope.

As a public artwork, the artwork includes the complete interactive process between the artist and the communities that will be part of the final product.

This project requires the complete integration of the artist into the planning process of the forest industry. I am collaborating with Dr. Stephen Sheppard at the University of British Columbia's Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP), an interdisciplinary research group using unique immersive virtual-reality facilities and interactive animation techniques to support public communications, perception-testing, and collaborative planning processes for design and decision-making. Designs will be animated by this process for presentation to government, community forestry groups, environmental groups and foresters. The project will continue with consultation between the artist and the interested communities.

"Silvae" is essentially about sustainability and process, about aesthetics and industry and, significantly, about challenging our perceptions around our relationship with nature.

Read the Artists Statement ....

See Exhibition Brochure

See the Exhibition Poster

Update! Design for Alex Fraser Research Forest, British Columbia
In collaboration with Ken Day, Chief Forester at AFRF, a design for a slope at Gavin Lake has been developed. The original design for this slope was based on an adaptation of the larger fossil images as illustrated in the painting Silvae 1.

See Original Design for Alex Fraser Research Forest, Poster

A second design was developed based on the essential spiral effect of the fossil images, rendering a simple yet recognizable image that is more effective as a unique cut on the slope. Plans to move forward on this second spiral design are complete, however market forces have determined that the projected harvest date be moved to the winter of 2009/10.

See the New Spiral Design for Alex Fraser Research Forest...

For inquiries regarding the comprehensive plan for Alex Fraser Research Forest please contact the artist at laurie@lauriemcgugan.com , or at 416-466-6099.

For more information about AFRF:  www.forestry.ubc.ca/resfor/afrf/index.html

Laurie McGugan
Mailing Address: 36 Fairview Blvd., Toronto M4K 1L9
R. R. #1 Cherry Valley, ON