Cedar Cone Rain Catcher
Cedar Cone Rain Catcher is a CreateSpace public art activation by 2021 artist-in-residence Laara Cerman that interacts with nature to create rain chime sounds in the surroundings of Rose Park in Squamish, British Columbia.
Project at a glance
Location: Rose Park (38550 Loggers Ln, Squamish, British Columbia)
Artist: Laara Cerman
Year: 2021-22
Project Photographer/Videographer: Trevor Jacobson, Sarah Dicker, Sebastian Boon
Program: CreateSpace Public Art Residency
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artist-in-residence
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artist mentor
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brass sculpture
About Cedar Cone Rain Catcher
Through the virtual CreateSpace Public Art Residency and additional support by artist mentor Winnie Truong, Squamish Arts Council through the Community Enhancement Grant, Prince Rupert Community Arts Council, and Cassiar Cannery, artist Laara Cerman expands on her work that intersects art, science, and history. Inspired by rainy British Columbia where the artist is based, Laara seeked ways to collaborate and interact with the rain for her public art project.
“What this project means to me is the chance to take the next step in my career as an artist. It’s a chance to work in a new medium that will withstand the outdoor elements.”
Cedar Cone Rain Catcher is a brass sculpture in the shape of a cedar cone that collects rain, which then releases the water through a bell siphon to play what the artist calls “rain chimes”. The musical notes of the rain chimes are informed by a small sequence of DNA from Western Red Cedar trees which the artist translates to musical notes. The cedar cone scales are open as though it has already released its seeds, in which the “seeds” will be its song.
This public art installation is installed at Rose Park in Squamish, British Columbia. The frequency of the rain chimes playing is dependent on the amount of rainfall which can vary quite a lot each day and each hour!
“My experience collaborating with STEPS has been really great. I am encountering a new territory in my art career and it’s been wonderful having [STEPS] there in the background for support.”
About the Artist
Laara Cerman
Laara Cerman is based in Vancouver, Canada, her work explores the intersection of art, science, and history through investigating patches of wildness that survive within suburban and urban landscapes. Her explorations continue into the forests of British Columbia where she aims to teach herself how to see the diversity of the forest floor in the midst of an era where this knowledge has lost its priority but not its importance.
Partners and Funders
The CreateSpace Residency is made possible by support from TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment, the City of Toronto as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021 – 2022, MAWA, and Canada Council for the Arts.
Additional funding and support for this project by:
