By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Feb 28, 2018
Public art or mean-spirited vandalism ?
A visitor to downtown Squamish may not be able to make up his or her mind on seeing the remains of the controversial Blue Tree project championed by Mayor Patricia Heintzman.
Three years after the trees were painted blue, the colour sticks to the trees, making a highfalutin endeavour look like petty mischief. 
It was in the spring of 2015 that artist Konstantin Dimopoulos painted the trees blue in downtown Squamish, purportedly to raise awareness about deforestation.
Part of a two-year Vancouver Biennale program, the Blue Trees project’s aim was to add public art into the build environment.
The district made cash payment of $43,177 to various artists, with $7,500 going to the Blue Trees project.
The tempering with trees, an expression of nature’s own art, set off a firestorm of criticism on the funding and judgement behind the project.
But there was a silver lining in these blue trees. In interviews with media, the artist assured locals the colour would come off naturally.
It’s myopic to focus on the temporary colour which is safe, comes off naturally in a few months and can be washed off anytime the district likes, he told the Reporter three years ago between painting the trees blue.
In 2015, Konstantin said he used a water-based soluble pigment to paint the trees, so safe he doused himself in the same pigment in Vancouver before starting on a project.
He also said there was no specific time in which the colour wears off from the trees, but said it could vary from a few months to a year.
“From my perspective, regardless of people didn’t like the blue trees or not, it was a very valuable conversation and we leveraged a lot of international press and attention from it as well and I think there was a lot of economic spin side as well,” Mayor Heintzman
Konstantin also painted trees blue in Port Moody, where the staff were told the colour would be off in three months, but it stuck for over a year, the local paper reported in 2012.
Staff in Port Moody mulled about power washing it, but then decided to let it stay, fearing the power wash would damage the trees permanently.
The Blue Trees artist said he had not received any calls from Port Moody. “The pigment is very difficult to determine how easily it can come off but it can be taken off at any time and it’s really just up to them,” he said at the time.
Has this public art project permanently damaged our local trees?
Perhaps Mayor Patricia Heintzman can bring this topic for discussion at the public art committee, where she recently talked about the blue trees project.
“From my perspective, regardless of people didn’t like the blue trees or not, it was a very valuable conversation and we leveraged a lot of international press and attention from it as well and I think there was a lot of economic spin side as well,” she said.
Mayor Heintzman didn’t say how the Blue Trees project contributed to the economy of Squamish. Can she now at least get the colour washed off from the trees?
Ant says
Slow news day eh? Maybe you should be more concerned with actual crimes like vandalism. Graffiti in town is getting out of hand and is a much bigger issue than a couple blue trees.
Dave Colwell says
And please, please don’t paint them blue or any colour again!
Stef says
A non issue in my world. I have my own set of issues with what local businesses and government do that make our town look derelict. This is not one of them.
David Lassmann says
This was an exciting new way to waste tax dollsrs. Who couldn’t think of a better use of the money?
Parm Singh says
Deforestation awareness by painting the tree blue ??? I don’t understand that. If we are really concerned about deforestation then we should plant more trees. We should not paint them blue or any other colour. You are polluting the environment by doing so. Mayor spent 43000$ for arts project such as blue trees, and now is she going to spend another $40000 to hire someone to tell the visitors why Squamish painted the trees blue.
AND Blue trees has an economic impact, really ? How so ?
Ant says
Groan…. this has been flogged to death already. Move on people. There are waaaaay more important issues in Squamish. Maybe direct some of your energy into commenting on the OCP instead?
David Lassmann says
You are wrong. The District can ill afford to waste any money. Would you like to donate your money to make up the loss?
Ant says
You’re an expert art critic and only your opinion of what’s worthwhile counts?
David Lassmann says
Yes, when I am paying for it my opinion is the one that counts. The same obviously applies to other payees. How many private property owners have paid to have this “art” done to their privately owned trees?
Dave Colwell says
Fine “Ant” but one thing that really picks me are people like you who, apparently, haven’t got the guts to put their real name to what they write….such do not deserve any opinion, in my opinion!
John Smith says
And yet you’re providing your “opinion” anyway. Would calling myself John Smith make you feel better?
I’m interested in what possible productive outcome you expect will come from whinning about something so trivial that happened over two years ago? Is it really that big of an issue in your world?
Dave Colwell says
Just call yourself by your real name please. We are all entitled to our opinion even if YOU find some trivial. In my opinion there has been much waste of public money in favour of Public Art. I am not against privately sponsored public art but over a million dollars for funky signs is another example of this kind of waste. A sign does not have to be a twisted piece of turquoise painted metal with almost unreadable print and costing $2000 apiece or more. That is not “trivial”!
Ant says
You seem confused. This post is about an art installation done two years ago. Your random points on directional signs and internet handles have made it clear you have completely missed the point or not actually read the article.
Dezzmond D says
It’s an old issue no doubt but with a fresh perspective. The artist had claimed the color would come off in a few months and won’t harm the trees. Two years later, the color is still there and looks even more hideous. The point is: why pay so much money to disfigure the nature’s beauty? I don’t believe this so-called public art brought any economic benefits.
Mark says
The blue-trees project was a badly conceived idea whoever thought of it. Anyone with a bucket of blue paint and a brush could have done what the gimmicky artist from Australia did in the name of art. District could have hired local artists who would have created something which went well with the vibes of the town. Public money that was spent on this charade could have been better spent on local artists.
Linda Bachman says
I still believe this blue-trees project totally missed any kind of constructive awareness or economical advantage message with the subject of deforestation. Perhaps another country would benefit from this awareness message, other than Squamish, where vegetation is scarce and communities do not already have a strong respect to protect our west coast forests.
There is so much more of an investment when art is totally original with creative skill.
Let’s hope the trees do remain healthy, at least.
guy on the move says
No other journalist would have dug this out. Public memory is short, and it must be jogged. Thanks for following up on the folly of a so-called “green” mayor who made so much of environment before getting elected.