From October 5th to October 20th, 2024, six talented local artists showcased unique art installations throughout Victoria Park. Visitors enjoyed a self-guided tour, using the map below to explore each piece and delve into the stories behind the trees and artists involved.
On October 20th, the Rooted in Art: Art Walk & Talk event invited participants to connect directly with the artists, who shared their inspirations, creative processes, and the meanings behind their work. Charlottetown's forestry team also joined the walk, offering fun facts and insights into the city's urban canopy. Attendees learned about the essential role trees play in our community, contributing to both the beauty and sustainability of Charlottetown.
1) City Tree #136
Species: Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
Although Norway maples are commonly found in Charlottetown’s urban forest, we are considered an invasive species in Canada. Our aggressive nature and dense canopy can disrupt local biodiversity. Additionally, we are not well adapted to PEI’s climate and are susceptible to damage during high winds. In the past, we were popular street trees due to our ability to grow in small spaces and compacted soil. Some people find us attractive, especially when we display deep red-coloured leaves in the fall. However, the City has stopped planting Norway maples as part of its tree-planting initiatives and is making an effort to prioritize native species and trees that are resilient to the effects of climate change.
Marina & Tatiana
“Colourful Harvest Tree"
Colourful Island, led by Tatiana Mizerina, is a local craft business known for bright and cozy knitted items. Print Design Maritime, a solo venture by graphic designer Marina Simon, offers a range of creative design services. The two artists met on Prince Edward Island 10 years ago and have since collaborated on numerous projects, blending their artistic talents and creative visions.
Through this project, the artists celebrate the vibrant colors of nature, especially during this colorful season, bringing excitement and joy to the local community. While summer may be over, each season holds its own unique beauty to appreciate!
2) City Tree #13549
Species: Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata)
I am often celebrated for my hardiness and adaptability. Though I am a common sight along the streets of Charlottetown, I actually originate from Europe. I thrive in tough urban conditions, which is why I was planted as a street tree for many years. My leaves are smaller than those of other linden trees, hence my name. In the summer, my flowers emit a beautiful fragrance that is loved by pollinators. These flowers are also used to make a tea with medicinal properties. The wood I produce is ideal for carving and was once used to make shields before the invention of firearms. At around 100 years old, I am highly effective at carbon sequestration, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve air quality.
Brenda Whiteway
“The Air We Breathe”
Brenda Whiteway is a visual artist living on Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk). For Brenda, artmaking is a way to find pattern amid chaos, which enables her to communicate ideas and convey a sense of the world around her. In her current work, she explores the passage of time – particularly as it relates to rural life, past and present – and the effects of urbanization, technology and climate change on traditional ways of life. She has a deep respect for the beauty and mystery of trees and often hugs her favourite ones!
This project seeks to raise awareness of the ecological significance of trees, particularly in the context of climate change and their essential contribution to our well-being. This artwork combines forms shared by humans and trees, in a way that seeks to deepen the understanding of our relationship and dependence on the natural world, emphasizing that the air we breathe is primary to our existence.
3) City Tree #13550
Species: American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
I produce edible nuts that provide an important food source for birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. I also support a variety of insects, including several species of butterflies and moths, by offering both food and habitat. I am easy to identify, even in winter, due to my distinctive smooth bark. My leaves sometimes remain through the winter months as well. However, I can be susceptible to beech bark disease, which can cause my normally smooth bark to develop raised blisters and callouses. I am a native species of PEI and the only beech tree native to North America. Indigenous communities have traditionally boiled my leaves to treat scabs and burns.
Ashely Anne Clark
“Midnight Moths”
Ashley Anne Clark is a multi-disciplinary artist working with themes of wildlife and the raw elements of nature. Her work provokes storytelling and appreciation for the untamed world. She enjoys transforming spaces to create a feeling of wonder and curiosity. Her strong connection to the animal kingdom portrays a sense of awareness and empathy and asks the viewers to take a closer look at the wild world around them.
Moths serve as vital pollinators and food sources for various small creatures, including birds and bats, and are intricately connected to trees, which provide them with shelter and safety. This artwork celebrates this interconnection and highlights the importance of biodiversity, while offering curious viewers a glimpse into the natural world at night.
4) City Tree #13304
Species: Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
I am well known as PEI’s official tree and can even be found on the provincial flag. As a native species, I am well adapted to the Island’s climate, putting down strong roots that help me withstand high winds during storms. I grow quickly and, under the right conditions, can live up to 500 years. My ability to survive storms highlights the importance of planting native species that are resilient to the increasingly intense weather events the Island will face due to climate change. I also provide valuable habitat, and my acorns serve as a food source for a variety of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.
Christina Patterson
“The Weaving of Life: As Above, So Below”
Christina Patterson is an interdisciplinary artist working in sculpture, textiles, painting, and illustration. Trained as a graphic designer, she incorporates bold style and composition into her work. Her playful, whimsical style explores storytelling and human nature, bringing curiosity and movement into each piece. Her recent accomplishments include designing the 2023 Canada Winter Games medals.
This artwork celebrates the intricate connections between trees and their environment through circular woven cross-sections that symbolize tree rings, inviting viewers to reflect on the hidden bonds that sustain life. It embodies the concept of unus mundus (of Latin origin), representing the unseen weaving of life and the connections that bind us all in a unified world.
5) City Tree #13121 & #13122
Species: Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum)
As I grow, I will continue to bring increasing benefits to my surroundings. I am known for my stunning fall colors and sweet sap, which is used to produce maple syrup—approximately 40 liters of my sap are needed to make 1 liter of syrup. Like all trees, I can sequester carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change while improving air quality, providing habitat for animals and insects, and managing stormwater. My roots also help stabilize the soil, reducing erosion and promoting healthy ecosystems. The larger I grow, the better I will be at doing all of these ecosystem services. Under the right conditions, I can live to be 300 to 400 years old.
Sarah Nicole Dart
“Biodiversity of a Tree’s Ecosystem”
Sarah Nicle Dart is an alternative photography artist from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, living in Charlottetown, PEI. Her interest in photography began in the high school darkroom and took her abroad to study in Dublin, Ireland, where she won the Bronze Medal during the 2015 Irish Times Annual Photographers Competition. Since 2016, Sarah has been experimenting with cyanotype chemistry, finding mindfulness and inspiration in using plants, feathers, and found objects for printing.
In celebration of biodiversity, this artwork is created through non-toxic cyanotype sun exposure of local diversity and plant life, featuring wildflowers, ferns, lichens, and collected feathers from birds that inhabit the trees. By inviting viewers to contemplate this printed diversity, this artwork aims to deepen their understanding of the essential role trees play in providing habitat and maintaining the ecological health of their surrounding ecosystems.
6) City Tree #13745
Species: Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
I am a native species of PEI, characterized by my red, scaly bark and long needles that grow in bundles of two. You can distinguish me from the non-native Austrian pine because my needles snap when bent in half, while those of the Austrian pine can bend without breaking. I grow quickly and am resistant to wind, drought, and insect pests. My deep and widespread roots also make me highly resilient in sandy soils, helping to prevent coastal erosion and protect the Island's shoreline. Additionally, I provide habitat for a variety of bird species. My resin is collected by Indigenous communities and boiled down to create a substance used for waterproofing traditional canoes.
Katie Strongman
“Condolences”
Katherine Strongman is an interdisciplinary artist from Summerside, PEI. Her recent work deals with feelings of isolation, connection, and belonging. After three years living abroad, she is rediscovering her connection to her home province and its landscape through art.
Created as an outlet for increasingly common feelings of environmental grief and anxiety, this artwork aims to resonate with viewers by expressing appreciation and a desire to protect what remains after devastating events like Hurricane Fiona, while encouraging reflection on the impacts of climate change and natural disasters on our landscapes and ecosystems.