THE TURTLE’S GARDEN
The Turtle’s Garden is a site specific temporary public art installation meant to be installed at Louis Valentino, Jr. Pier and Park next Spring until October 2024. The shape of the sculpture is inspired by the Native American creation story of Turtle’s Island. The installation highlights native plantings in public spaces. This project was selected by Art Lives Here as the Project development cohort. For more information: https://www.artlivesherenyc.org/project-development-salas
The Turtle’s Garden will be created in the shape of a turtle.The head, tail, and legs of the turtle will be sewn out of a waterproof awning fabric that will be stuffed with single use plastic bags collected from community residents and installed around the garden so that people will be able to sit and engage with the garden that is the turtle's body. The garden will be created with seedlings purchased from the Greenbelt Native Center that will be secured in place with bio logs and a high tech plastic mesh, will give shape to the Turtle’s back, secure and protect the plants from the wind, rain, animal and human activity. The installation will enhance and help to activate the site.
The project's main goal is to create awareness of the environment in a meaningful and playful way. It seeks to promote a culture of respect and appreciation for the natural world, and for the creatures that inhabit it. The public art installation will be a reminder that we are all interconnected. Through this installation, people of all ages and walks of life can learn about the importance of nature and its role in our existence. The artwork will not only be aesthetically pleasing, but it will also serve as a catalyst for conversations and deeper connections.
