Canary Tree

Filed under Ongoing Event, Installation, projects

Artist: Eric Lee-Quai + Jesse Harris

What happened to acid rain? Canary Tree is a playful yet aggressive awareness campaign that serves to shine light on this forgotten urban environmental condition, through the use of various acid-reactive outdoor installations.

The Canary Tree is a self-guided outdoor installation tour navigated by map, engaging the participant in each respective location, aiming to address the impact of acid rain on the community.

ACID-REACTIVE MAP AND STATEMENT
The map is provided within the gallery at no charge. The paper itself has been treated with litmus, and in the event of an acidic rainfall, or even under prolonged skin contact, will be made essentially unusable, the words disappearing when in contact with acidic liquid.
This map will be used to locate the various outdoor installations for the show.

ACID-REACTIVE TREES
As indicated on the map, at various industrial intersections in and around the Williamsburg area will be strategically placed hand-made trees showcasing litmus-treated fabric as leaves. In the event of acidic rainfall or snow, the leaves become bright red in color, indicating acidic presence.

PROSTHETIC TREE LIMBS
In and around the Williamsburg area will be hand-made replications of tree branches attached to telephone polls and other man-made objects. Similarly to the trees, the leaves will react with a change in color to bright red in the event of acidic rainfall.

ACID-REACTIVE SIGNAGE
Incorporated into the aforementioned installations and at unique locations around Williamsburg will be litmus-treated signs, similar to the map and statement. Slogans and alternating messages will be revealed in the case of an acidic rainfall.

ACID-REACTIVE BEACONS TO URBANITY
At various locations in and around the Williamsburg area will be “beacons to urbanity� altered to react to acidic rain, such as sneakers hung from power-lines.