The creation of our first site specific work "April"

United States Canada Peace
Anniversary Association (USCPAA)

www.peacearchpark.org

Creating "April"

A Site Specific Sculpture
April 9 - 23, 2005

This page is dedicated to the creation of April. This sculpture is the first site specific artwork that has been featured in the International Sculpture Exhibition. Having an artwork created on-site gave the association an opportunity to share its creation with the public. We are grateful that Aaron Haba was supportive and embraced the opportunity to share April's creation with some local residents and children.

It was a great opportunity to have a peace culture workshop in the park. We invited educators Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett to also be a part of the creative team and help out with the children. Their lesson included: Peace Arch history, art lesson, music & sharing.

		Aaron packs the concrete into "April's" mold. He makes sure there are no air pockets.
		Christina Alexander gives a Peace Arch History lesson to the children. Teachers Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett talk to the children about Peace Art and invite them to share their wishes with the group before they place them in the sculpture.
As the Children share the wishes Cathy Taggett writes them down a list. The wishes included everything from: "I wish I could see my mother" "I wish I was a millionaire" "I wish I had a horse"
		This is the mold of dirt use to cast April. It is made from American & Canadian soil.
Once the mold was made it was time to prepare 14 bags of concrete mix. The sculpture will be built from the bottom of the earthen mold up. A Rebar frame will placed inside the sculpture to reinforce it's construction. Aaron Haba and his friend Derek Klett prepare to operate the concrete mixer.
We met with the group of children earlier in the week. We invited them to find a wishing stone at home or someplace that was special to them. We told them to bring their special stone with them to the park. Here are all the children's wishes before each child placed theirs into the sculpture. We reminded the children that wishes are special. The Peace Arch itself and park have a history of wishes. The people who built the Peace wished for world peace. The sculpture Aaron was building was also going to include special wishes to. Their special wishes.
		Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett brought a bag of extra stones just in case anyone forgot theirs.
The children are patient as Aaron prepares "April"to receive their wishing stones.
		One by one the children placed their stones within the sculpture.
There were many wishes placed in the sculpture. Some wished were pretty basic like "I want a Million Dollars. Others reflected on wanting to simply see and be with their loved ones. All wishes no matter how big or small were included.
		Aaron places a rebar frame over the stones and then he covers the wishes with more concrete.
Aaron smoothes out the concrete and makes sure there are no air pockets in the mold. It is then covered for protection and allowed to cure for 5 days.
		Next"April is raised from the dirt and placed on a base that Aaron prepared.
Aaron then polishes the sculpture with a grinder to create a nice smooth surface.
		Here is the finished sculpture.
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