NORTHERN SPIRITS

A HEXAGONAL PHOTO OP

“Northern Spirits” will center around a striking seven-foot hexagonal structure, serving both as an art installation and a fantastic photo opportunity. This installation is designed as an ode to many iconic northern animals — such as the bison, polar bear, bighorn sheep, reindeer, snowy owl, and beluga whale. The contrast between the dark silhouettes and the illuminated outlines of the northern animals will simulate the aura of the Northern lights in the night sky, adding a touch of enchantment to the installation. “Northern Spirits” will shed light (both literally and figuratively) on the important need for animal conservation. The installation seeks to be an invaluable reminder of the delicate balance of the Northern ecosystem and the challenges these animals face due to climate change, habitat loss, and human impact.

The hexagonal structure and northern animal cutouts will be crafted using wood, utilizing reclaimed wood to highlight our commitment to building sustainably. The LED rope lighting that will meticulously outline the animals serves as a representation of the northern lights. The interplay between the wood and the LED lighting enhances the immersive experience, inviting visitors to explore the installation from multiple perspectives.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Anthony Eslava of Ace Wood Co.

The artistic driving force behind this installation is Anthony Eslava of Ace Wood Co. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Anthony is a carpenter and woodworker with a dual passion: a creative spirit and a deep love for nature. Anthony’s enthusiasm lies in seamlessly merging artistic expression with the inherent beauty of natural materials. “Northern Spirits” marks Anthony’s inaugural venture into the world of public art.

Ace Wood Co. helps people create their dream environment with unique and thoughtfully designed items.

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LOVE EACH OTTER

A TESTIMATE TO LOVE

Love Each Otter, two six-foot tall North American River Otters, celebrates the success story of these previously at risk critters. The Heart in the center of the sculpture represents the love and hope that went into the successful reintroduction to their native habitats and their resilience to challenging environmental factors.

The Heart, held between the Otters, will be lit by red and color-changing LED lights. Twinkling lights, wrapped around the frame, will further illuminate the sculpture. A bench, placed between the Otters, will facilitate and encourage photo opportunities and interaction with the installation. The Boardwalk leading up to this site welcomes and invites visitors to come in, rest on the bench and take some photos!

Love Each Otter will be 14 feet wide by 8 feet tall. The otters will be 6 feet tall. This installation will be constructed using recycled steel rebar for the armatures & bases, 1 inch & ½ inch Galvanized steel chicken wire, recycled aluminum wire, enamel paint, LED lights and electric timers.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Laura Ouimet Of WE-MET WIRE WORK

Laura Ouimet is a Canadian artist and educator based in Edmonton, Alberta. Her Wire Art is made in a very distinctive style, and everything she makes is hand-twisted without power tools. Chicken Wire is her preferred medium to create sculptures with. She has participated in many markets and artisan events in Alberta, including the Reynolds Alberta Museum Metal Art Show and Sale. Her sculptures have been displayed in cities, universities, galleries, and retail spaces throughout the province.

Laura often collaborates with her partner, Louis Ouimet, who assists with wire cutting and welding the armature for her sculptures.

This will be Laura’s first year creating art for Zoominescence.

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IMPACT

AN INTERACTIVE DRUMMING EXPERIENCE

“Impact” is an interactive art installation displaying what people can achieve when they work together. Four drums are attached to sound-reactive LED strips. In the center is a rectangular pillar with graphics on each side: A Polar Bear, Beluga Whale, Snowy Owl and Arctic Wolf. These four animals are on the verge of extinction due to climate change. As the drums are hit, it sends a wave of blue light toward the pillar, eventually illuminating all four sides. The pillar will shine brightly if everyone works together to play the four drums simultaneously. At this time, you have four people focused very intently on their impact on these represented creatures, making them think of the impact they may have through their daily lives on the animals’ existence.

Impact will be constructed of upcycled plywood, LED strips, weatherproof reusable drums, acrylic sheets, vinyl and screws.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kam Kaminski & Adon Lee Clements OF SOKARIS INC.

Kam Kaminski is a spatial design artist and certified event manager from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He has worked alongside multiple design groups and event management companies assisting with creative direction, experiential marketing strategies and logistical planning. 

Adon Lee Clements studied Asia Pacific Management at Grant MacEwan University in Canada. He is the Director of Sokaris Inc. where he focuses on branding, business expansion, client communication, and human resources.

Sokaris Inc. is an international interdisciplinary design studio that creates engaging and interactive experiences that fulfill the strongest craving to feel alive. From art installations and museums to jaw-dropping stage and set designs and experiential marketing, Sokaris is a full-service creative company. This is the Sokaris team’s second Zoominescence installation; in 2020, they created Chrome Heart, a multi-dimensional sculpture encompassing community resilience by showing the essentials of existence: people, life, and love.

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 PORCUPINE LANTERN

A FIBER OPTIC RAINBOW

When thinking of conservation, porcupines might not be the first animal to spring to mind. Their population is healthy, they survive well on even lower-quality foods, and their adaptable ilk thrive in a broad spectrum of habitats and local climes. So why pick this particular prickly persona?

Porcupines Embody conservation just by existing! These natural Ecosystem Engineers create habitat as they go about their regular routine. Their bark-eating proclivities beget fallen logs and branches, creating wonderful hiding places for Mammals, Amphibians and Invertebrates. The Standing snags and down wood they leave in their wake create perfect homes for woodpeckers, salamanders and bats. The dead wood becomes host to insects, which are, in turn, eaten by bears and birds. The berries and buds these messy eaters knock from the high branches provide non-climbing animals with a tasty treat. If only we could all be so productive for our ecosystem just by bumbling around and eating lunch! And the whole colourful rainbow of creatures benefitting from a porcupine’s day-to-day existence owes a debt of gratitude to the porcupine’s natural built-in defence: Quills. Quills allow the porcupine to remain relatively unbothered by predators and go about its natural daily conservation efforts, one snack at a time.

The Fibre Optic rainbow reminds us that sometimes, just by letting our unique adaptations shine their brightest unbothered by the slings and arrows of living, a multitude of life can flow from a single unique creature living its best life.

GABS & Trew Facks will partner with a local manufacturer of biodegradable 3D printing plastic (Canadian Filaments) to obtain their waste, out-of-spec filament that would otherwise be thrown away, The body of the porcupine will be made from bamboo and galvanised wire. The porcupine skin and fur areas will be comprised of old white cloth, such as old sheets and fur offcuts from GABS collection. The quills will be held in place using custom designed 3D printed hubs throughout the body. The piece will be lit by NeoPixel LEDs connected to a timer.

This piece will replicate a large than life Porcupine at 2 ft tall by 4.5 ft long.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

GABS & TREW FACKS

GABS is an Edmonton-based artist well known for creating whimsical glowing creatures such as a 30 ft baby humpback whale and a life-sized 10 ft by 18 ft woolly mammoth, which is now on display at the Royal Alberta Museum. 

This is GABS’s second year attending Zoominescence. In 2022, she brought us Pan-glow-in, a project that brought attention to one of the world’s most unusual mammals, the Pangolin. Its warm glow mirrored the glow ignited in the hearts of people encountering her adorable creation at last year’s festival.

GABS will focus on creating the rough body shape Of the Porcupine Lantern, then hand it off to Trew Facks, who will make custom parts to light each quill on the Porcupine. Trew Facks is a local purveyor of Edmonton-themed creations. He has created a similar piece before but has imagined technological improvements to the system that will allow the Quills to dazzle in all their fibre-optic glory. GABS and Trew will collaborate to imbue the piece with final touches, bringing personality and life to their creation. 

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THE ICE WALKER

Polar bear

The Ice Walker installation depicts a life-sized, or close to life-sized, Polar Bear in motion.

The sculpture will be mounted to a solid yet portable base. Internal lighting and a painted exterior will allow for different effects and a complete viewing experience regardless of the time of day. The panels that make up the sculpture will be slightly gapped, allowing light to emanate from an internal lighting source. The lights will have approximately 20 minutes of animated sequences that will repeat.

This sculpture will be 8-10 feet wide by 4-6 feet tall.

Retro Active Arcade plans to use recycled and reclaimed wood in their construction, along with as many other recycled materials as possible.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

RETRO ACTIVE ARCADE

Retro Active Arcade is a local, Edmonton-based company specializing in designing and manufacturing personalized arcade systems. With over 25 years in the cabinetry and arcade industry, they utilize the newest and most innovative practices to build quality, one-of-a-kind arcade games.

Their design team for this year’s project includes creatives Casey Browning, Jaclyne O’Neill, and Brandon Rose. 

This is Retro Active’s second year attending Zoominescence. In 2022, they brought us Bat Luminescence, an internally lit bat in flight. 

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