Wilderness Arts

The Forest Art Project
During the late days of summer, a special breed of artist congregates in Ontario's cottage country to engage in artistic activities of a natural kind. Over the past two years, they have transformed a small part of Haliburton Forest's landscape into a Land Art experience. Under the direction of Reinhard Reitzenstein, artists have created site-specific wilderness art installations along forest trails of the Wild Woods Walk just north of the Haliburton Forest Base Camp.

What is Land Art?
Artists who have chosen to work outdoors with materials found in the natural environment -- such as rocks, trees, leaves, and other vegetation – often refer to their work as "land art."  These works are located in outdoor, natural environments rather than in art galleries where the art works are protected from the elements.

What is The Forest Art Project?
For the Forest Art Project, seven artists created land-based works during the 2008 and 2009 Forest Festival. Visitors to Haliburton Forest are invited to hike the Wild Wood Walk just north of Base Camp to meet the artists and observe their creative processes at work. The art works will remain in the forest as a permanent part of the Wild Wood Walk and visitors are invited to experience them at any time, in any season.

The theme for the Forest Art Project - Is "Sustainability", a crucial element in the philosophy that guides Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve. The Forest Art Project will, over time, transform some of Haliburton Forest's landscape into a multi-layered, intensive Land Art experience. Many of the past year's installations are still in evidence.

This Year's Artists:
Include Mary Anne Barkhouse, George Hughes, Gareth Lichty, Reinhard Reitzenstein, Robert Wiens and Gayle Young. They will begin work on the 2010 installation at Haliburton Forest on August 5. A public launch will be held on August 14 at 4 pm.