Eco-sculpture celebrates the wonders of nature while adding handcrafted beauty to the Burnaby landscape – giving residents and visitors more great reasons to visit the city’s parks and cultural facilities.

Eco-sculpture is a modern form of horticulture also known as “topiary.” Rather than relying on stone and chisel, eco-sculptors create art from nature.  Recognizing a unique opportunity, the City of Burnaby is taking the lead in bringing eco-sculpture to the West Coast through installations and workshops.

Last year, the city trotted out the crowd-pleasing Parsley, modelled after a carousel horse at the Burnaby Village Museum. Now the menagerie has grown with the addition of Cohoe Loe, Gilbert and Tilicum – a trio of salmon released into the wild at Fraser Foreshores Park in South Burnaby, and a flock of cranes who will be nesting on Burnaby Mountain.

The earliest examples of eco-sculpture date back to ancient Rome, where gardeners cut trees and shrubs into recognizable shapes. Now re-branded by environmental artists as “eco-sculpture,” the art form draws inspiration from traditional fine arts. From painting comes a diverse palette of colours. Sculpture provides the three-dimensional elements of texture and perspective. The result is a living canvas that is aesthetically delightful in terms of form and colour yet continues to change with each passing season.

Click here for Burnaby’s Eco-Sculpture Locations

For more information visit the City of Burnaby’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture.