Reconciled Futures Art Installation

Located at the 63rd Avenue and Yukon Street green rainwater infrastructure plaza

In 2019 we partnered with the City of Vancouver Green Infrastructure Team to pilot a one-week Spring Break Art Camp for Indigenous youth. The 9 participants created designs that have been used for five public art installations at the rain garden at 63rd and Yukon. ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
The art camp, named Reconciled Futures, also brought together prominent host nations artists to deliver a series of workshops specifically designed for youth.

These artworks were installed in a Rain Garden and Bioswale created by the Green Infrastructure team at 63rd and Yukon. This bio-retention plaza, captures and cleans 2.2 million litres of polluted street run-off each year, filtering it where it falls. By keeping this water out of the storm sewers, this project reduces combined sewer overflows and contamination of local waterways.

In 2021 the project was awarded third place in the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Trailblazers Campaign presented by The Atlas and the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange.

green rainwater infrastructure plaza

(63rd & Yukon)

⁠⠀

Location

Reconciled Futures Art Camp

In addition to designing public artwork, the nine camp participants also experienced a variety of cultural immersion activities during the weeklong camp. This included collections and exhibition tours given by MOV curatorial and learning teams, care and handling training with the MOV Conservator, and a series of workshops delivered by host nation artists.

These included: Copper Jewellery making with Aaron Nelson Moody - Squamish Nation; a Coast Salish Formline painting workshop with Ocean Hyland - Tsleil-Waututh Nation; and a Cedar Bark Basketry workshop with Kelsey Sparrow (Musqueam) and Atheana Picha (Kwantlen). On the last day of the camp, Haida artist Marcel Russ gave advice to students as they finalized their designs for their public art projects, and the YVR Art Foundation gave a presentation on upcoming opportunities.