Remembering Our Roots

Since 2012 I have installed my wheat grass roots sculptures in several galleries, parks and festivals. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to grow the wheatgrass root sculptures in moulds. Once grown can be exhibited in many ways. Relevant to this proposal they can be hung from branches and/or tied to tree trunks along park path or nature trails, sometimes in grouping sometimes individually. Audience of all ages enjoy them and assign different meanings to them. They maintain their shape for a remarkably longtime . They are easily installed and removed with a small ladder. I usually install 10 to 15 sculptures per show.

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About the Artist:

Although we live in a period of great wealth, there continues to exist poverty and hunger; although we are increasingly aware of our environment, we continue to damage it incredibly; and although we have made great strides in understanding human diseases, we struggle to provide person centered care and promote health. There is now evidence that participation in the arts promotes health and well being in individuals and their community.

I describe myself as an interdisciplinary research artist. I am a full-time artist 2011.

I work on two intertwined tracts: a socially/politically engaged one and one of personal inquiry. I believe art has lost its place to science, business, and entertainment as a way of knowing. Most of my research focuses on our environment, and mental health. I use various mediums as needed to explore an issue.

I am a member of Connection Salon, on the board of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver. I am the founding artistic director of the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival now in its 8^th year.

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Follow Pierre Leichner:

https://leichner.ca/Installations/Panoply/panoply.html