Site Memories: Murmuring Crows (Ingrid Koivukangas) creates a connection from the past to the present, from the natural world to the industrial, from the world of site memories to the present day. The crows and corresponding text, sand blasted onto boulders along Spirit Trail, share Crow mythology while leading viewers through the park to the memory of a ship, the Benjamin Sewall.
The Sewall was one of the last tall ships to load first growth timbers from Moodyville Mills. Her story is created from words stamped directly into the asphalt to gain some understanding of the size of the tall ships that anchored within sight of the Spirit Trail pathway. An aluminum crow is installed on one of a group of three Douglas Fir trees and represents the centre mast of the Benjamin Sewall. The crow's nest would have perched atop this mast. (see Related Web Page link above for the full Benjamin Sewall story)
The Spirit Trail can be a popular area with muggles and cyclists regularly using the pathway so don't go for grab if the place is too busy. While you are waiting for things to cool down, you can always wander along looking for more crows, either painted on the rocks or up in the trees. How many can you count? The container is a spray-painted round 600ml L&L. Take some photos, post your comments and don't forget to tell me what you think is your favourite piece in this geocache location.
This cache is located not far from the new Spirit Trail 3rd Street Overpass. Go check it out, if you have the time. There are also some other public art pieces to look for (see waypoints):
Milling Time (Randall Anderson) is a series of panels near the south end of the Spirit Trail Overpass that depict a lively pattern of saw blades in homage to the historic logging settlement of Moodyville that once thrived in that same location. Incorporated within the three panel designs is a variety of saws, with the antique crosscut saw blade echoing the repeat pattern of the railroad ties below the site and the circular motif of the saw blades echoing and reinforcing the idea of things moving, turning, like the wheels of nearby trains, trucks, cars and bikes. For some the design may be interpreted much like the intricate workings of a clock, bringing to mind the passage of time. You can view these panels from the sidewalk on the north side of Third Street, below the overpass. Motorists and cyclists can also see more of the panels that adorn the south face of the support structure for the overpass.
Essential Elements (Peter Pierobon & Sibeal Foyle) Originally installed as an artistic bike barrier on the low level road in 2002, this sculptural work was relocated to Esplanade Avenue in 2014, as part of the Port Metro road realignment project. Each pole is topped with a painted cedar sculpture which pivots in the wind, depicting symbols that relate to the old logging town of Moodyville that once flourished here. Look closely and you will see a wheat sheaf, a fiddlehead, clouds, fish, a bighorn, a stylized bucksaw, a feather, fern, a broom and gears. The installation serves both as a piece of public art and as a protective barrier from roadway traffic for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Story of Life (Susan Point) For thousands of years, the Coast Salish peoples have travelled and lived within the vast territory that surrounds the City of Vancouver, a territory that covers the northern tip of Vancouver Island, the whole of the lower mainland, right into the State of Washington. Over time, new people arrived from various cultures and made this same territory their home. Taking into consideration the past and present landscape and mix of the surrounding environment, Musqueum artist Susan Point created the illustrative cast-concrete mural “Story of Life” which is featured on the mid-section retaining wall of the Low Level Roadway. The three panel design masterfully depicts the story of this area with male and female figures welcoming all peoples to this land. At the beginning of the mural there is imagery suggestive of traditional habitat. Moving towards the centre there is a thriving community reflective of the rhythm of the land with images of butterflies, frogs, hummingbirds, salmon, eagles, and plant life. Finally, subtle flora and fauna motifs represent the future generations and the knots represent the ties to the past within all cultures. THIS MURAL CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY MOTORISTS AND CYCLISTS USING THE LOW LEVEL ROAD. PEDESTRIANS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WALK HERE. SORRY!
As always have a great geocache time and I hope you have a chance to visit the other public art locations around the North Shore.