DUETS:THE DANCE OF SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

2016 Anne Ophelia Dowden Award

by Vicki Earle

Duets: The Dance of Symbiotic Relationships is a project inspired by plants found at the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bloedel is a lush triodetic dome located at the highest point in the city. It has approximately 500 species plants and 180 exotic free-flying birds from around the world, with a focus on tropical and subtropical species. British Columbia is the temperate rainforest capital of the world, therefore the Bloedel Conservatory provides a magnificent and symbolic counterpoint where the appreciation and education of both ecosystems can be brought to thousands of visitors.

Even though I went to the Conservatory for years to sketch, I had never really considered the relationships many of these plants have with other species in the wild. I began doing extensive research to give tours and presentations to a variety of school, garden and seniors groups, as well as to teach volunteer guides about the collection at Bloedel. This led me on a journey discovering unique relationships that tropical plants have with insects, animals, and sometimes, even humans. Before I knew it, I had a collection of fascinating, mutually beneficial relationships that I wanted to paint and share with a larger audience.

The focus of the Duets project is to highlight the use of botanical art to promote educational awareness of the intricate interdependence of plant species within tropical ecosystems – as well as our own dependence on plants. This project has two distinct components: 1) exhibitions of the original watercolor paintings at various venues in British Columbia and 2) the design and production of thirteen interpretative panels, made specifically for display at the Bloedel Conservatory.

There were many issues to consider in developing the interpretative panels, which would be placed in garden beds next to the plant species described. These included humidity, condensation, automatic misters – and of course the free flying birds. The panels needed to be water resistant and able to withstand multiple cleanings per week.

The 6-week panel display at the Conservatory launched on September 15th, 2017. Two types of special frames also needed to be designed and built to hold the 20 x 30 inch panels in the garden. Some frames needed to slip over waist high retaining walls to be near the appropriate plant species. Others required five-foot legs to be securely lodged into the soil of the various garden beds. This project has been very well received by the public. Because of its popularity and educational value, the Vancouver Park Board has requested that the panels stay on display for an extended period of time. This will also coincide with the Artists for Conservation Festival that will take place at the VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Bloedel Conservatory in November.

The botanical watercolors for the Duets project will be on exhibit at the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre from October 1 to December 30th, 2017. This exhibit will then move to the Foyer Gallery in Squamish, British Columbia for the month of April, 2018.

I am very grateful to the American Society of Botanical Artists for awarding this project the 2017 Anne Ophelia Dowden Grant to bring the exhibitions of Duets to fruition. I am also truly honored to have had the opportunity to share this project and experience with members at the 23rd Annual ASBA conference. Thank you to all involved!