DECEMBER 2017 SITELINESLandscape Architecture in British Columbia The Arts and Landscape Architecture Classical Music and Landscape Architecture | The Visual Arts in Landscape Architecture | The Written Words: Canadian Authors and the Landscape OPEN AIR STRUCTURES Pavilions Amphitheaters Walkways Gazebos Entrance Canopies Trellises Contact Habitat Systems today to start your project www.habitat-systems.com | Toll Free 1 (866) 422-4828 2 SITELINES BC Society of Landscape Architects 450–355 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8 T 604.682.5610 E [email protected] F 604.681.3394 [email protected] TF 855.682.5610 (Canada and US) W www.bcsla.org www.sitelines.org THE andARTS Landscape Architecture PRESIDENT Scott Watson PRESIDENT ELECT Stephen Vincent PAST PRESIDENT Al Neufeld Larry Diamond, BCSLA, CSLA, PIBC, ASLA, Retired Derek Lee, BCSLA, CSLA, LEED A.P. REGISTRAR Mark Vaughan Principal, Urban Design, PWL Partnership TREASURER Cynthia Hildebrand DIRECTORS Debra Barnes Robert Fershau Landscape architecture draws upon environmental and human science, economics, Illarion Gallant technology and art. In this issue of SITELINES we ask the question: how is our field Alexandre Man-Bourdan linked to other forms of artistic expression and what can we learn from them? Can Jordan McAuley the arts enrich our understanding of the design process and inspire us to further Miriam Plishka think outside the proverbial box? CSLA REP. Katherine Dunster DIRECTORS (non-voting) Great composers, including Handel, Beethoven, Dvorak, Wagner and Debussy were UBC SALA REP. Susan Herrington deeply inspired by land and water. Landscape is also fundamental to visual art. INTERN/ASSOCIATE REP. Emily Hamilton Throughout history, depictions of the land and sea as both background and primary STUDENT REP. Celia Winters subject has been integral to painting, sculpture and public art. Landscape also plays EXEC. DIRECTOR Tara Culham a vital role in literature, theatre, cinema and dance in all their dimensions. MEMBER SERVICES COORDINATOR Stephanie Nguyen These articles explore our profession’s relationship to three artistic endeavors: Sitelines is published six times per year; February, classical music, visual art and Canadian literature. Is there a connection between April, June, August, October, and November by the British Columbia Society of Landscape musical expression, composition, structure and landscape design? What were the Architects and is mailed to all BCSLA members, advances, over time, in drawing, painting and sculpture that permitted artists to registered landscape architects, associates and affiliates. The editorial deadline is the 8th and interpret and highlight the landscape? What are some exciting contributions of advertising is the 16th day of the intervening Da Vinci, Picasso and Burle Marx; what can we absorb from them and apply? Are months. Advertising rate information is available on request. Inquiries regarding editorial, advertising, there messages for us from Canadian writers, both Indigenous and non-Aboriginal? or other issues should be addressed to the Sitelines And finally, what are the artistic components of landscape architecture, how can we Editor, c/o the BCSLA at the above address. To view the full-colour version of Sitelines, please visit unleash new creativity and what lies ahead for us artistically, as a profession? www.sitelines.org. In future issues of SITELINES, the relationship of our field to other artistic endeavors may be explored. Hopefully, we offer a few answers, provoke greater SITELINES GROUP curiosity and encourage animated discussion through this collaborative effort. SL GUEST EDITOR Larry Diamond, BCSLA, CSLA, PIBC, ASLA Derek Lee, BCSLA, CSLA, LEED A.P. CO-EDITOR Stephanie Nguyen In this Issue: The Arts and Landscape Architecture ..................................... 3 ADVERTISING Tara Culham 604.682.5610 fax: 604.681.3394 Classical Music and Landscape Architecture .......................5 GRAPHIC DESIGN Addon Creative 604.379.5943 PRINTING Initial Printing Inc. 604.669.2383 The Visual Arts in Landscape Architecture ..........................10 The purpose of Sitelines is to provide an open forum for the exchange of ideas and information The Written Words: Canadian Authors and pertaining to the profession of landscape architecture. Individual opinions expressed the Landscape ...................................................................................14 are those of the writers and not necessarily of those of the BCSLA. Cover Illustration: Derek Lee December 2017 SITELINES 3 where form meets fun For standout playscapes that fuse form, function and fun, turn to Canada’s own Blue Imp, brought to you exclusively by Swing Time Distributors Ltd. Call us at 1.800.816.6949 or 604.990.9187 or visit www.swingtimedistributors.com COCHRAN F. J. (Julia) Ryan AB, BC, SK 604.738.0455 [email protected] DESIGN. CU LTURE. CRAFT. 4 SITELINES BC Society of Landscape Architects Larry Diamond, BCSLA, CSLA, PIBC, ASLA, Retired Illustrations by Larry Diamond Classical Music and Landscape Architecture – Is there a connection? – A long-time enthusiast of classical music Handel, renowned for his “Messiah”, lands. A cheerful “Spring Symphony” (# 1) and an avid concert goer, I’ve recently composed “Water Music” for King George I, by Robert Schumann celebrated the bursting pondered whether there is a plausible link to celebrate the River Thames (originally forth of buds and flowers (and love for his between this wonderful art form and land- performed on a barge with the Royal young wife, Clara). scape architecture. Both disciplines require Family). Meanwhile, Franz Schubert’s much Profoundly influenced by the landscape unstinting commitment, astute creative loved “Trout Quintet” found its inspiration of his native Czechoslovakia, Antonin interpretation and fastidious attention to in part, from the streams of alpine Austria. Dvorak infused rural folk tunes and dances technical detail. Yet one could argue that Straddling the Eighteenth and Nineteenth into many of his works. His overture any similarity ends there, given the con- “In Nature’s Realm” is but one of many straints of deadlines, client programs and a centuries, the prolific musical legend slew of regulatory obligations that landscape Ludwig von Beethoven composed among examples. Awed by his sojourn to America, architects must constantly satisfy which his numerous outpourings the beautiful Dvorak evolved his 9th Symphony, “From ostensibly, composers and musicians don’t “Pastoral Symphony” (# 6) which transports the New World” to celebrate the vastness of have to grapple with (they face other daunt- us into the rural realm, including peasant the plains, cities teeming with immigrants ing challenges). However, I feel differently, so dances, birdcalls and a thunder storm. A and the drama of its geography. In contrast bear with me while I advance my thoughts. rhythmically brilliant Felix Mendelssohn to his exuberant offerings, a comparatively (who allegedly was a poor traveler), dour Jean Sibelius reflected the dark forests journeyed to Italy and Scotland for musical and brooding lakes of his native Finland Great Composers: inspiration, resulting in the rousing “Italian through his symphonies, while Norwegian Symphony”, the “Scottish Symphony” and Edvard Grieg drew upon fjords, waterfalls Inspired by Land and Water the overture, “Fingal’s Cave”, all three and peaks to help inspire pieces such as the Historically, many celebrated classical inspired by the people, landforms and “Peer Gynt” and “Holberg” suites. composers have experienced an intimate coastlines he encountered. France’s Claude Debussy parted company connection with land and water that has Romantic composer Johannes Brahms with the more structured form of Romantic influenced their works. Some examples: sought the calm of an alpine lakeshore to 19th Century music. In “La Mer”, he utilized Italian Baroque’s Antonio Vivaldi expressed produce his melodic 2nd Symphony while an impressionist style to express the ocean’s his love of earth and its annual climatic vari- Russian Pytor Tchaikovski’s 1st Symphony, various moods while the English 20th Cen- ations in “The Four Seasons” while German “Winter Dreams” conjures up images of tury composer Benjamin Britten in his “Sea born English composer George Frederick sledded troikas, ice skaters and snow swept Interludes” (from the opera “Peter Grimes”) > December 2017 SITELINES 5 conveys a sense of foreboding, tracing the Similarly, a landscape design requires a and slower movements contrast with vivid, sea’s unpredictability from calm to savage rhythm (or bones) around which spatial even explosive ones. In a single piece, one storm. Italy’s Ottorino Respighi created the definition is constructed, utilizing elements can therefore experience a wide spectrum of “Pines of Rome” to depict the ubiquitous such as grading, circulation, planting and site color, from solemn to joyful. conifers at different locations throughout the amenities. Without a signature or framework, It is the judicious use of compatible and at day, including the Villa Borghese gardens, the design collapses. As in music, the scheme’s times, contrasting color that can make the Catacombs and the Appian Way. rhythm can be complex or subtle, but it must be clearly established to move forward. a landscape design either successful or In North America, both rural and urban mediocre. Desirable results are often achieved landscape settings inspired 20th Century through the creative use of vegetation, composers. George Gershwin