Craig Walsh bringing 'Monuments' to Artpark

Event set for Friday, Aug. 9

Artpark & Company Press Release

In celebration of Artpark & Company’s 50th anniversary season, Craig Walsh’s “Monuments,” a temporary installation created by the acclaimed Australian artist, will be unveiled at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in Artpark’s Amphitheater along the red brick road and upper lawn. The presentation will be preceded by an 8 p.m. performance by Montreal’s Cirque Kikasse. Both events are free and open to the public. 

“Monuments” will be open from 9-11 p.m. Aug. 9, 12, 14, 15 and 18. When the park becomes dark, visitors will witness several trees come alive with “Monuments.” Walsh has digitally mapped the faces and expressions of the honorees so their living projections will beam directly onto the trees. 

Artpark will honor its “unsung heroes”: Indigenous neighbors, stage crew, staff, volunteers, board of directors, “Artpark Legacy,” “The Artists of Artpark,” New York State Parks and Artpark patrons (past, present and future) with digital projections of their faces across the trees. The heroes will be revealed to the public for the first time on Aug. 9.

“Monuments” is free and open to the public. Click here for days and times.

The unveiling begins at 8 p.m. with a lively street-level performance by Cirque Kikasse, a Montreal-based dynamic troupe of high-flying acrobatics, contagious energy and breathtaking balances – all on an extraordinary street truck!

After the Cirque Kikasse performance, Artpark Interim-President, David Wedekindt will hold a proclamation and invite honorees and their guests to light up the night with “Monuments.” 

Walsh was in residence at Artpark from June 11-24, filming “Monuments” and digitally mapping the Artpark landscape.

Pictured are a pair of the faces shown elsewhere as part of Craig Walsh’s “Monuments.” The presentation will debut at Artpark on Aug. 9. (Photos courtesy of Artpark & Company)

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More about Craig Walsh

Over the past 30 years, Walsh has become widely known for his pioneering works, including innovative approaches to projection mapping in unconventional sites. His site-responsive works have animated natural environments and features such as trees, rivers and mountains, as well as public art projects in urban and architectural space. He is also renowned for his site interventions at live events, including iconic works at music festivals across Australia and internationally.

“Monuments” is a site-responsive, outdoor video installation that has been realized across Australia and internationally. Since the first tree projection in 1993, “Monuments” installations have continued to evolve and captivate new audiences as they occupy new landscapes and engage with different communities. The video installations evoke a haunting synergy between the human form, natural environment, and the act of viewing. Nighttime projections transform trees into sculptural monuments, surveying the immediate environment.

“Monuments” aims to challenge traditional expectations of public monuments and the selective history represented in civic spaces. Cleverly deconstructing its own definition by humanizing the monument, there is a temporary fusion of everyday individuals with other living species occupying shared areas. Undermining the permanent historical and public art models so often controlled by subjective motivations, “Monuments” recognizes the infinite contributions that influence one’s understanding of place. Installations are customized for each site through the selection of the portraits celebrated.

‘Monuments,’ moments shared at Artpark

Artpark’s “Monuments” seeks to honor the many factions of the Artpark community who come together to contribute their joy, passion and dedication to fulfill the venue’s mission: Artpark & Company fosters a transformative world of artistic engagement that explores the human experience, cultivates creativity, and encourages curiosity. Our work is informed by a long tradition of discovery, an expectation of artistic excellence, and an awareness of the inspiration of singular natural splendor.

Located at the birthplace of Niagara Falls, and situated on traditional indigenous lands of many nations, Artpark & Company honors the historic legacy on which it was created, supporting the evolution of the arts and its role as a cultural leader, aspiring to a progressive future. We embrace a philosophy that art, culture and nature can harmoniously coexist and inspire. We advocate for every art, both known and not yet known, as created in public by diverse artists, often with assistance from their audience, attracted by the discovery, learning and exploration that the arts encourage.

Each new visit to Artpark brings excitement, curiosity, and renewed perspectives.

Visit artpark.net for additional events and information.