FRIENDLY FACES

A SMILE FROM BELOW THE SURFACE.

‘Friendly Faces’ is a series of bright, playful domes with endangered animals’ faces vinyled on to them. The 2’ and 3’ diameter domes flash with a variety of fun colours, taking an open field and transforming it into an engaging space for viewers to interact with various creatures. This installation encourages the conservation of these friendly faces by showing them in a new light.

‘Friendly Faces’ contains multiple repurposed and reused elements, and keeps energy consumption to a minimum through the use of LED lights, timers, and programming. It is constructed of polypropylene domes.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

THIRDSPACEE DESIGN GROUP

Thirdspace Design Group is a multi-disciplinary design studio that designs, fabricates, and produces immersive art and design experiences with a team of creatives from across the design spectrum. The design team includes:

• Founding Partner, Amos Kajner Nonnekes, who is an experienced designer, public artist, and urban planner with multiple commissioned installations for public and private clients across Edmonton.
• Art Director, Vinny Lee, who is an illustrator with experience producing multiple installations for festivals across Alberta. He has a diploma in graphic design, as well as years of experience providing art direction for multiple clients.
• Industrial Designer, Mickey LaForge, with a background in engineering. Her expertise in this field supports the organization’s efforts to design and build novel installations with emerging technologies and innovative practices.

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GREVY’S GLOW

PILLARS OF CONSERVATION.

“Grevy’s Glow” is an art installation dedicated to illuminating the success story of conservation efforts at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, highlighted by the joyous birth of a baby Grevy’s zebra on July 23, 2023. By showcasing this remarkable achievement, Anthony hopes to encourage a deeper understanding and commitment to conservation within our community and beyond.

The exhibit features two 8-foot tall, illuminated pillars made from three boxes stacked one on top of the other, symbolizing the union of two zebras, creating a third. With “Grevy’s Glow,” we celebrate the ongoing efforts to grow the Grevy’s zebra population. This exhibit aims to bring awareness, inspire action, and highlight the importance of preserving endangered species.

The pillars and pannel cutouts will be crafted using reclaimed wood to highlight Anthony’s commitment to sustainability. Inside the pillars, color-changing LED spotlights will be strategically placed to illuminate the intricate details of the cutouts. Visitors will be invited to stroll amongst the pillars and interact with the installation from various perspectives. Grevy’s Glow will provide a memorable photo opportunity.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ace Wood Co.

The artistic driving force behind this installation is Anthony Eslava of Ace Wood Co. 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. He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ace Wood Co. helps people create their dream environment with unique, thoughtfully designed items. Anthony is excited to expand his portfolio, crafting public art pieces that unite people, illuminate spaces, and serve as an artistic voice to express a deeper message.

This is Anthony’s sedond year creating for Zoominescence. Don’t forget to check out his other 2024 installation “Stripes in the Shadows“ and his 2023 installation “Northern Spirits“!

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STRIPES IN THE SHADOWS

AN INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW.

“Stripes in the Shadows” draws inspiration from the Grevy’s zebra, known for their unique and striking stripes. As visitors step into this installation, they are greeted by a series of five intricately designed lanterns, each with different zebra-themed cutouts. These lanterns are strategically strung to cast dynamic and captivating shadows. As the light filters through the cutouts, it casts shifting shapes on the ground and surrounding surfaces, inviting visitors to explore the ever-changing patterns. Visitors’ eyes will be drawn to a central rotating lantern at the heart of the installation. This lantern features cutouts of Grevy’s zebra hooves. It slowly rotates, creating a mesmerizing effect emphasizing the need to grow the endangered Grevy’s zebra population. The movement of the lantern symbolized the ongoing efforts and dynamic nature of conservation work required to protect this species.

The lanterns will be constructed out of upcycled wood, which helps to reduce waste while giving new life to reclaimed materials. Outfitted with energy-efficient LED lights, the lanterns will cast a spellbinding glow.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ace Wood Co.

The artistic driving force behind this installation is Anthony Eslava of Ace Wood Co. 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. He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ace Wood Co. helps people create their dream environment with unique, thoughtfully designed items. Anthony is excited to expand his portfolio, crafting public art pieces that unite people, illuminate spaces, and serve as an artistic voice to express a deeper message.

This is Anthony’s sedond year creating for Zoominescence. Don’t forget to check out his other 2024 installation “Grevy’s Glow“ and his 2023 installation “Northern Spirits“!

Follow Ace Wood Co.:

LEAPFROG

AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE

The childhood game of leapfrog is best played with someone your size. With that in Mind, the installation “Leapfrog” is a human-sized glowing Leopard Frog, ready to play with you (or at least, pose for a photo!)

“Leapfrog” symbolizes the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s dedication to the Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Project. This project is crucial in giving these adorable and threatened amphibians a jump-start in repopulating specific wetlands across British Columbia.

“Leapfrog” will be 3D-printed from biodegradable corn-based PLA sourced locally from Canadian Filaments or Recycled PLA from Reflow, which creates 3D-printing filaments from food packaging waste. It will be lit internally with low-voltage LEDs. The frog will be hung from a stand made from metal and wood.

Guests will be encouraged to crouch beneath and pose in a game of leapfrog with the art piece. Frogs are fabulous at jumping, but sometimes it’s easier when they have a bit of a boost from the shoulders of someone like you!

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

TREW FACKS.

Trew Facks is a local character and purveyor of whimsical Edmonton-themed creations. For last year’s Zoominescence, Trew and GABS teamed up to create a life-sized Fibre-optic Porcupine Lantern, which rode across the city in a bicycle trailer and caught a lift downtown on ETS On-Demand Transit on its way to the zoo. This year, Trew hopes to transport Leap Frog in a similar highly visible, active-transport fashion (strolling across the city with a glowing frog backpack, perhaps?)

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NORTHERN SPIRITS

A HEXAGONAL PHOTO OP

“Northern Spirits” centers around a striking seven-foot hexagonal structure, serving 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 simulates the aura of the Northern lights in the night sky, adding a touch of enchantment to the installation. “Northern Spirits” sheds light (literally and figuratively) on the crucial 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 are crafted from reclaimed wood to highlight our commitment to building sustainably. The LED rope lighting 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. 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. He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ace Wood Co. helps people create their dream environment with unique, thoughtfully designed items. Anthony is excited to expand his portfolio, crafting public art pieces that unite people, illuminate spaces, and serve as an artistic voice to express a deeper message.

This was Anthony’s first Zoominescence Art Installation. Don’t forget to check out his 2024 installations, “Grevy’s Glow” and “Stripes in the Shadows“!

Follow Ace Wood Co.: