News Release
AIPP Summer Events
6/4/2010
Town of Vail Art in Public Places (AIPP) is pleased to announce its summer programs, Art in Nature/Nature in Art. The pristine beauty of Vail’s natural landscape is the ideal canvas upon which artists can draw creative inspiration. Intertwining art with nature the AIPP calendar of events include art courses for youths and adults taught outdoors at Vail’s Nature Center co-sponsored by the Nature Center and the Art Center in Gypsum; the extended loan of two “Steelroots” sculptures by internationally renowned artist Steve Tobin to be placed in LionsHead and Vail Village; and commencing next week an art installation utilizing beetle killed lodgepole pine in Ford Park by artist Ben Roth (tree art fence shown above).
On June 8 the Vail Fire Department and A Cut Above Forestry will cut standing dead lodgepole pines selected for this project from East Vail as part of its ongoing forest health activities. The trees will be transported to the lower bench of Ford Park where artist Ben Roth’s installation will be constructed. Roth’s work captures the raw beauty in what would otherwise be devastated forestry. His sensibility for nature and his keen eye for design will transform this area of Ford Park into an exceptional sustainable art installation.
The artist plans to dissect the trees longitudinally from root to top creating 90 degree structures arranged in an interactive and engaging pattern for the viewer. One will be able to see the formation and growth of a tree in an unusual manner. As most trees are sawed at a cross section, this will be an opportunity to examine the growth of tree and branches in the entirety of the tree’s life.
“Seeing these trees die during our lifetime is only a narrow snapshot of the life of a forest. The benefits of the beetle kill for the health of a forest will not happen for 100 to 150 years. It is certainly hard for us to witness, but if something good comes out of something bad while it is occurring this is an interesting project,” explains Todd Oppenheimer, senior landscape architect and capital projects manager for the Town of Vail.
A native of Colorado, Roth currently lives and works in Jackson, Wyo. His passion for art is a direct result of the striking beauty of his surroundings. “What is it about an aspen branch, or bend in a stream that is so arresting? That is the impact I want to capture in my work,” says Roth.
Roth works in a variety of materials including steel, glass, bronze, clay and wood. His previous public projects in Wyoming incorporate standing dead trees such as aspen and pine. His public art projects utilizing trees at first glance appear to be curiosities of nature or mirages, such as ”Aspen Fan,” “Continuous Aspen” and “Fence Bow.”
AIPP greatly appreciates the assistance of A Cut Above Forestry, Vail Fire Department and the Town of Vail’s Public Works for their assistance in this project.
For additional information on AIPP’s Art in Nature/Nature in Art summer programs, contact AIPP coordinator Molly Eppard, 479-2344 or meppard@vailgov.com.
Download Picture: treeartweb.jpg
