ANCASTER FIELDCOTE WALKWAY PUBLIC ART COMPETITION

Artist’s Proposal

A Walk in Time by Patrick Bermingham

Artist’s Concept Statement This proposal seeks to draw attention to the earliest period of Ancaster’s his-tory. The town exists today because of the junction of two or three, very old and important trails. The intersection of Rousseau and Wilson Streets was once an intersection of the Mohawk and Iroquois trails (the former coming from Al-bany and Boston and the latter following the south shore of Lake Ontario before climbing the escarpment to Ancaster. It is worth noting that the Beasley house overlooking Hamilton harbor (site of Dundurn Castle) was situated at one end of a trail that traveled west toward Brantford and onward to Detroit. There were many such First Nations pathways connecting the small and large destinations in North America long before European explorers and fur traders arrived in the 17th century. These ancient pathways evolved over many years and were, in most cases, the absolutely most efficient route between any two points. Along the way “marker trees”, the first international road signs, would guide travelers to the best places to cross a river, camp site, midway points etc. These unmistakable living signs could be read and understood by any First Nation’s traveler regardless of his or her language. Today most such trees are dead or decaying; few remain in Wentworth county.

This proposal will illustrate the meaning and significance of these early marker trees and hopes to engage the Six Nations in recreating one or more marker trees along the pathway to Fieldcote. Once again, these living trees will point the way to a destination, mark a junction with another trail and bear witness to many visitors to Fieldcote for years to come. In addition to living trees, the pathway would be enhanced with one or more photo-etched aluminum panels that high-light the early history of Ancaster and illustrate the first pathways and routes of First Nations. Ancaster is unique in that it has several roads which were made by widening ancient pathways. These roads predate the arrival of British surveyors in 1793, who started to cut the straight north/south, east/west lines through the previously “unknown” wilderness that characterizes most of southern Ontario. Roads such as Mineral Springs and Indian Trail were once both part of the same pathway connecting Toronto with Detroit and places beyond. This 200 meter walkway will illustrate the natural and efficient logic of these first roads and hope-fully give the viewer an understanding of William Blake’s observation:

‘Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of Genius.’

City of Hamilton Hamilton Ancaster Fieldcote Public Art Competition Patrick Bermingham Pg 1 of 5

Project Elements

Overview I propose to take the viewer down an ancient pathway that starts in 1793 with the British colonization and walks back in time to the time of the French ex-plorers and continues into the long period of first nations habitation and then back to the first period of habitation.

The installation will start with maps , transition to Marker trees and arrive at a sculpture in a clearing. The viewer will gain an understanding of the ancient roots of navigation and how Ancaster’s Wilson St. is in fact “A Path to the Mo-hawk village” at Brantford.

1. Orientation Plaque

concept image #3.

The first element will be located just inside the gateway. It will introduce the viewer to the history and concepts they will discover along the pathway. It will be aproximately 500 words and it is expected that the viewer may read only some parts at one time, but come back to read more in the future.

2. Early British Map of the Area

A replica of a British Map table made of steel with a laser etched map on top.

This map illustrates how Gov-ernor Simcoe’s road to London imposed a military order on an untamed wilderness . Cootes, the original part of Dundas is located in the center of the map, ( close to todays Canadian tire) The mills of Ancaster are clearly visible. Wilson street is identified as the “Path to the Mohawk village”. The cold spring , near the lions club pool is also marked..

3. French Explorers’ Map

The French map by Charle-voix – Bellin 1744 identifies nearly all of the navigable waterways in the great lake region as well as one ancient pathway traveling from the head of lake Ontario to the Grand river.

concept image #2.

map detail.

concept image #3. City of Hamilton Hamilton Ancaster Fieldcote Public Art Competition Patrick Bermingham Pg 2 of 5

Project Elements (continued)

4. Living Marker Trees

Marker trees, “the first International road signs” were created by First Nations peoples throughout North America to identify, trails, campsites, river crossings and boundaries. They were read and understood by people that spoke many different languages

Maple trees will be planted along the curved portion of the pathway and then once established trained to become living marker trees. It is my intention to engage a representative of the six nations to advise and participate in this process.

Tree Bending Methodology

Proposed placement of marker trees

City of Hamilton Hamilton Ancaster Fieldcote Public Art Competition Patrick Bermingham Pg 3 of 5

Project Elements (continued)

Maquette Images5. Steel Sculpture

Sculpture, another ancient language , can communicate our feelings about nature, the past and future. This piece is intended to represent both the spirit of the tree, and the life force which makes it strive to grow vertically towards the light and also the potential to work with nature without cutting it down or destroying it. The completed work will be stainless steel with a natural finish and will be approximately 4 m high.

Maquette Image in context

City of Hamilton Hamilton Ancaster Fieldcote Public Art Competition Patrick Bermingham Pg 4 of 5

Site Map

WIL

SON

1.8

Poured in place concrete pad

Fieldcote Gateway

Limit of Easement

Wooded Area

Compacted Stone dust path

LEGEND

1.8m high Ornamental Iron Fence

0.9m high Ornamental Iron Fence

Limit of Easement

1.8m wide compacted stone

HOUSE

HOUSE

3.0m

Wooded Clearing

Wid

th o

f Eas

emen

t

Sidewalk

Approximate Length of Sightline: 200m

ANCASTER FIELDCOTE WALKWAY PUBLIC ART COMPETITION

APPENDIX B: SITE INFORMATION

Public Art to be situated no further than 2meters from walking path

Fieldcote looped path

1235

4

4 4

LEGEND

1. Orientation Plaque 2. British Map Table 3. French Explorer’s Map 4. Living Marker Trees 5. Steel Sculpture

City of Hamilton Hamilton Ancaster Fieldcote Public Art Competition Patrick Bermingham Pg 5 of 5