This beautiful setting is Vanier Park in Vancouver. I discovered these wondrous chestnut trees a year ago, just as the winter weather was arriving.
I returned this year intent on creating a piece with the chestnuts and the spiky outer shells. This tree is situated right outside the planetarium (see link above) on a hill overlooking English Bay.
When I began, I envisioned a more involved design than this. I began raking the shells and leaves, and realized because of the dampness, there was not enough contrast in color to make a pronounced line. There was also not enough "material" to work with. I continued raking for 3 hours, and gathered all the nuts. While clearing the inner circle, I found a well within the roots. (for trees and wells).
As I was trying to decide what to do next, a large group of 4 year old children arrived and circled up on the grass right near the chestnut circle.
The perfect infusion!
I asked one of the class leaders if it would be possible when they were done, to have them gather around the circle so that I could take a photo. Several moms didn't want their children photographed, so that nixed that idea. One teacher did lead the children in a chase thru the park, winding them thru the circle.
Pixies galore dancing thru the ring!!
As simple as this turned out to be, It is fascinating to me that the "ring" would prompt all ages to stop and pause and look differently at what was before them. For a brief moment, their awareness of the ancient tree was altered. Some even saw the "doorway". One elderly woman commented that it looked like I was about to start a ceremonial ritual.
Indeed, I had, and she was part of the celebration.
