Beaver Pond(er)ing Lodging
Beaver Pond(er)ing Lodging is a living willow sculpture with a story to share.
The Grandview Highway Corridor was once a thriving wetland habitat created by numerous beaver dams along Still Creek. In the 1950’s Still Creek was culverted, narrowed, and the wetlands were filled and paved to make room for businesses and transportation corridors. This destroyed habitat for not only beavers, but many other mammals, birds, and fish. Neighbourhood children could no longer swim and fish in the ponds, eat berries, or bring trilliums home to their mothers.
Our giant Beaver is woven from living willow (her favourite food), and is a tribute to the habitat building, diligence and collaborative spirit of Beaver.
Currently, the steep increase in housing costs pushes many of our neighbours to live in unconventional shelter along the creek. Beaver still wants to live by the creek, but like people with limited access to resources, she has to get creative and work with what’s available. No more mound of mud and sticks – She is getting with the times and building herself an RV… The Dodge Lodge.
Beaver Pond(er)ing Lodging interweaves the ancient tradition of willow weaving with community-led stream bank stewardship. It brings attention to the interconnected environmental and social injustices of human displacement and habitat loss through the creation of a beaver and an RV(recreational vehicle) woven from living willow plant material.
Phase I, 2021: Research and Development – (supported by Canada Council) We are learning about the site, planting and growing willow, researching and piloting the techniques we will use, and learning from weavers, knowledge keepers and community members.
Phase II, 2022 – 2024: Concept to Realization. We will grow and create the interactive eco-art sculptures on site.
Still Moon hopes this project shines light on the stark injustices of the urban world, educates people on the local history and ecological principles, and provides a regenerative and collaborative opportunity for us and the land.
Carmen Rosen, founding director of Still Moon, and mycologist/artist Willoughby Arevalo are the leading artists on this project.
Location: On the northwest corner of 3185 Grandview Highway (near Rupert Skytrain Station, just north of the SuperSave)
Conceptual drawing: A beaver climbs up the stream bank, curiously noticing an RV that is parked on the lawn.
Project Funders & Supporters
