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Garden 11 – Grounding

Gardener: Ahbyah Baker
1983 Dunstone Place, North Vancouver

The initial front garden was designed by landscape architect Raoul Robillard in 1978, similar in style to Butchart Gardens in terms of planting and layout, featuring a formal ‘still’ garden with various varieties of Azaleas. Since 2020 we have been strategically removing the Cotoneaster horizontalis and Azaleas and replacing and introducing a perennial presence leaning on a ‘Cottage Garden’ aesthetic with intent towards a more bio diverse garden which can host a multitude of pollinators and wildlife while offering a multi seasonal display, changing throughout the season.

           At the north end of the backyard garden is a predominantly native woodland garden. In the centre of the backyard garden is the valuable sunny area. The north top section of the back yard is predominantly native plants in this section featuring native ground cover. This area looks amazing in the early spring, like a blanket of loveliness, and it requires very low maintenance and need little or no watering. The south area, sounding the pool, has a tropical/exotic section that comes in the late summer featuring bananas, cannas, gunnera, ginger, lilies, tetrapanax, and ad fig tree. We like to plant flowers that attract humming birds and other wildlife.

        Our garden is situated on what was a ancient old growth forest remnants of stumps can still be seen, and second or third growth surrounding us. The District of North Vancouver has land adjacent to the back yard on the south side of the property. It was exclusively native plants dense with salmon berry, alder trees, ferns, vine maple, and horsetails. Over the past 20 years invasive species completely choked out the native plants. Worried that the encroaching invasive plants would begin progressing thru the forest during the initial days of the pandemic, we, with help from neighbours and permission from the District of North Vancouver, began removing invasive species from the greenbelt surrounding the trails. The District provided a variety of native shrubs , ferns and trees to help fill in the areas that where cleared. This work both helped revive the native environment that will help the local wildlife but will also be more climate resilient.

Accessibility

The driveway can handle eight cars parked two by two. The driveway is a cul-du-sac and there typically is a fair amount of street parking. Please remember to leave parking closest to the garden entrance available for those who need accessible parking.The Seymour/Phibbs Exchange 211 bus stops in front of the garden, and the 214 bus stops about a ten minute walk away.There is a path and set of stairs with a railing that leads to the backyard. There is a paved area near the pool immediately upon entering the garden, and narrow unpaved paths leading through the rest of the garden.

Visual Artists

Robert Turriff
he/him
Open Studio
Wood carving, metal, welding, bronze
READ MORE
BioRobert Turriff is a sculptor who lives and works in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His personal art practice primarily focuses on creating sculptures that combine a variety of materials in unique ways often using unconventional materials not usually used in art production. Roberts work typically involves a direct method of creating such as welding or carving. Robert enjoys creating beautiful organic forms that draw reference from nature.Artist StatementThe focus of my work is primarily sculpture. Related to my form-based work, I enjoy creating organic forms that reference motion or gesture, drawing from elemental forces such as ocean waves, how a tree grows, and patterns left in the sand by the ocean. The forms created in nature by forces that leave a trace but are sometimes not always visible inspire me. When carving wood burls, I react to the natural forms inside the wood and work with them to add beauty to something that is already beautiful. In my additive work, like welding, I join together pieces of metal pipes, corners, and different connectors, using portions of these interesting shapes sourced from different industries as the materials for my work. The variety of components welded together in a process similar to sketching in three dimensions. The welding process is a very immediate and direct way of creating. My personal artwork expresses my personal aesthetic of beauty.
Ania Salmina
Activity and Demonstration: Hatching techniques | Saturday 2:00pm - 2:30pm
Acrylic, Digital
READ MORE
"I’m Ania Salmina, an illustrator and a painter. Most of all, I’m interested in self-discovery through personal life experiences and the childhood of my daughter. I draw everyday moments with my daughter who loves pink colour most of all. I am melted in a fairytale of motherhood. Trust me, she gives enough topics for my everyday art practice! I’m sharing with you some of the moments between us 2."

      Visual Artists

      Robert Turriff
      he/him
      Open Studio
      Wood carving, metal, welding, bronze
      READ MORE
      BioRobert Turriff is a sculptor who lives and works in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His personal art practice primarily focuses on creating sculptures that combine a variety of materials in unique ways often using unconventional materials not usually used in art production. Roberts work typically involves a direct method of creating such as welding or carving. Robert enjoys creating beautiful organic forms that draw reference from nature.Artist StatementThe focus of my work is primarily sculpture. Related to my form-based work, I enjoy creating organic forms that reference motion or gesture, drawing from elemental forces such as ocean waves, how a tree grows, and patterns left in the sand by the ocean. The forms created in nature by forces that leave a trace but are sometimes not always visible inspire me. When carving wood burls, I react to the natural forms inside the wood and work with them to add beauty to something that is already beautiful. In my additive work, like welding, I join together pieces of metal pipes, corners, and different connectors, using portions of these interesting shapes sourced from different industries as the materials for my work. The variety of components welded together in a process similar to sketching in three dimensions. The welding process is a very immediate and direct way of creating. My personal artwork expresses my personal aesthetic of beauty.
      Ania Salmina
      Activity and Demonstration: Hatching techniques | Saturday 2:00pm - 2:30pm
      Acrylic, Digital
      READ MORE
      "I’m Ania Salmina, an illustrator and a painter. Most of all, I’m interested in self-discovery through personal life experiences and the childhood of my daughter. I draw everyday moments with my daughter who loves pink colour most of all. I am melted in a fairytale of motherhood. Trust me, she gives enough topics for my everyday art practice! I’m sharing with you some of the moments between us 2."

          MUSICIANS

          The Shorties
          Folk, Indie, Singer-Songwriter
          Both days, 12:00pm-2:00pm
          READ MORE

          Short and sweet.

          Shorties is a contemporary folk trio inspired by influences in singer-songwriter, jazz, and R&B genres. Shorties are grateful to make music on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

          Cindy, Kaya and Sydney met while studying Jazz at Capilano University and quickly bonded over jam sessions, heart-to-hearts, and love of cheese (brie to be exact). Together they weave colourful harmonies with honest lyrics that are authentic to their experiences with anxiety, friendship, grief, and hope.

          Shorties songs feel like a warm hug, togetherness, and tender commiseration.

          Half/Asian with Amy the CODA
          Ian (he/him) and Amy (she/her)
          Synth Pop with Sign Language
          Both days, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
          READ MORE

          HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA is a mixed race (Cantonese/British) musician making synth pop on an 80’s synth and a Child Of Deaf Adult singing and signing the lyrics in her mother tongue; sign language.

          HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA are an audio-visual performing duo creating art that is rooted in identity exploration and embodiment. HALF/ASIAN (Ian Griffiths) plays synthesizers from the 80’s purchased at thrift stores and sings in English. Amy the CODA (Amy Braun) performs in her first language – Pidgin Signed English (A combination of ASL signs and English grammar and syntax). For Ian, it started with the purchase of a Yamaha PSR36 – and has grown into a distinct sound that pushes the boundaries of synthesizer programming – going beyond the parameters it was designed for. The lyricism ranges from fractured poetry to poignant storytelling and narratives. They sound like Chromeo and Gorillaz meets George Harrison.

           

            MUSICIANS

            The Shorties
            Folk, Indie, Singer-Songwriter
            Both days, 12:00pm-2:00pm
            READ MORE

            Short and sweet.

            Shorties is a contemporary folk trio inspired by influences in singer-songwriter, jazz, and R&B genres. Shorties are grateful to make music on the unceded ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

            Cindy, Kaya and Sydney met while studying Jazz at Capilano University and quickly bonded over jam sessions, heart-to-hearts, and love of cheese (brie to be exact). Together they weave colourful harmonies with honest lyrics that are authentic to their experiences with anxiety, friendship, grief, and hope.

            Shorties songs feel like a warm hug, togetherness, and tender commiseration.

            Half/Asian with Amy the CODA
            Ian (he/him) and Amy (she/her)
            Synth Pop with Sign Language
            Both days, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
            READ MORE

            HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA is a mixed race (Cantonese/British) musician making synth pop on an 80’s synth and a Child Of Deaf Adult singing and signing the lyrics in her mother tongue; sign language.

            HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA are an audio-visual performing duo creating art that is rooted in identity exploration and embodiment. HALF/ASIAN (Ian Griffiths) plays synthesizers from the 80’s purchased at thrift stores and sings in English. Amy the CODA (Amy Braun) performs in her first language – Pidgin Signed English (A combination of ASL signs and English grammar and syntax). For Ian, it started with the purchase of a Yamaha PSR36 – and has grown into a distinct sound that pushes the boundaries of synthesizer programming – going beyond the parameters it was designed for. The lyricism ranges from fractured poetry to poignant storytelling and narratives. They sound like Chromeo and Gorillaz meets George Harrison.

             

              PERFORMERS

              Franz Seachel
              Spoken Word Poetry
              Sunday, 12:45pm - 1:15pm
              READ MORE

              Franz Seachel is a South-Asian settler residing on unceded Coast-Salish lands. She is a writer, organizer, workshop facilitator and multidisciplinary artist. She believes art makes living bearable and is doing her best to put more colour into the world. She means this both in the sense of brightening up the mundane with creation, as well as in her mission to uplift the truths of marginalized bodies. She is currently working on her first novel, in addition to other multidisciplinary art projects. Franz hopes you dream often; she hopes you find reasons to stay. You can follow her on Instagram, @franz_seachel.

                  PERFORMERS

                  Franz Seachel
                  Spoken Word Poetry
                  Sunday, 12:45pm - 1:15pm
                  READ MORE

                  Franz Seachel is a South-Asian settler residing on unceded Coast-Salish lands. She is a writer, organizer, workshop facilitator and multidisciplinary artist. She believes art makes living bearable and is doing her best to put more colour into the world. She means this both in the sense of brightening up the mundane with creation, as well as in her mission to uplift the truths of marginalized bodies. She is currently working on her first novel, in addition to other multidisciplinary art projects. Franz hopes you dream often; she hopes you find reasons to stay. You can follow her on Instagram, @franz_seachel.