Silk Purse: Community Art Project

Hosted by the West Vancouver Community Arts Council

Grasssqawtch is the WVCAC’s 2024 Community Art Project, created by North Shore artist Robert Turriff. A large, friendly, mythical creature of the wilds, the Grasssqawtch is an interactive temporary artwork engaging the community in a Cultural Conversation on Climate Change.

A 7’ x 7’ x 4’ steel sculpture, Grasssqawtch is covered in shade cloth fitted with pockets of soil on the interior; adorned with an expressive & heartwarming face fashioned in mild steel. Everyone is invited to participate in the artwork's completion by planting drought-tolerant native grasses into the sculpture as the Grassqawtch’s hair - covering it from head to toe! As the project progresses, the Grassqawtch will come to life, becoming fuller & vibrant as it is covered in grass/hair. 

You'll be part of the art-making process and learn about drought-tolerant native grasses suitable for sustainability, & why it's important to use & preserve native plants. Grassqawtch will live in the park throughout August, with community participation happening every weekend under the guidance of the artist & WVCAC staff.

The Community Art Project is supported by the Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, District of West Vancouver, West Vancouver Foundation

For more information about the exhibiting artists, visit the West Vancouver Community Arts Council website.