Mar. 1, 2012, Toronto — The harmonious bond between man, music and environment returns to Canada Blooms this year.
Following on last year's hugely popular partnership, Canada Blooms will feature four “Juno Rocks” Gardens, inspired by Juno Award-nominated and -winning artists Feist, Jann Arden and Keshia Chanté, as well as Royal Wood and Sarah Slean. The gardens will be designed in partnership with artists and landscape professionals, and are intended to capture the artistic spirit of each musician. The gardens will be on display at Canada Blooms from March 16 to 25 at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto.
“We are very excited about our continued partnership with the Juno Awards,” said Gerry Ginsberg, general manager of Canada Blooms. “Our theme this year is City Culture and these incredible musicians and their collaborators are a part of Canada’s vibrant art and cultural landscape,” he added. “We’re all influenced by Canada’s natural beauty and these gardens are a chance for these leading Canadian artists to create reflections of themselves and their music in these natural environments.”
“CARAS is delighted to partner again with Canada Blooms,” said Melanie Berry, president and CEO of CARAS/The Juno Awards and MusiCounts. “Canada is rich with a vast array of talent – and the 'Juno Rocks' Gardens serve to highlight both the musical talent of the Juno Award nominees and winners, as well as the gardening talent of the landscape architects.”
The four “Juno Rocks" Gardens will be created for:
- Feist (by OGS Landscape Services). International break-out artist Feist will channel her musical artistry into a garden installation meant to play on our notions of time. Feist’s garden, titled Past in Present, will give the effect of a space forgotten with time, asking visitors to reminisce on their younger days. Wild, unkempt, and a bit rambling, the garden landscape will feature perennials that have their own history and can be relied upon to respond to the seasons and come to you as a surprise every year. Feist has been nominated for 15 Juno Awards, and has won eight times.
- Jann Arden (by North 44 Land Designs, Tersigni Landscaping and Garden Retreats). Arden’s garden is named Meadow Unplugged, and is inspired by her beautiful country home just outside of Calgary. The garden, led by North 44 Land Designs, built by Tersigni Landscaping and designed by North 44 Land Design and Garden Retreats is meant to mimic the beautiful meadow garden and the unique western Canadian landscape. This lyrical meadow garden will feature a small brook and a bench carved with lyrics. While Arden spends much of her life on the road, her garden serves as her retreat, allowing her to take in nature's tranquil blend of colours and textures. Sometimes, on quiet mornings, deer reveal themselves in the distance. Arden has been nominated for 22 Juno Awards, and has won eight times.
- Keshia Chanté (by Egreen Design Inc.). Chanté's inspiration for her garden – titled Blooming System – was to bring her young, fresh personality to Canada Blooms. The garden, which was designed by Egreen Designs Inc, reflects her young, urban lifestyle, with small spaces that play on light and modern materials. The garden is sleek and modern, with stainless steel accents and bright splashes of colour. The modern aesthetic will be complemented by Chanté's music, which will play on a screen in the garden – inviting visitors to experience her and her music. Chanté is a Juno Award winner and six-time nominee.
- Sarah Slean and Royal Wood (by The Great Garden Revival Co.). Wood and Slean are passionate believers in the idea that nature's gifts can be bountiful for future generations if we steward them correctly. Wood and Slean have made their cultural mark with their own unique sounds, and together they reflect an appreciation for Canadian landscape and an awareness of our connection with it. The two asked for their garden to emphasize the harmonious cycle between nature and man. Rain water will be collected to feed lush vegetation that in turns feeds the soul of the visitor, ultimately creating a harmonious union in one ecosystem. Water features will be carefully built in along with reclaimed and retro manmade structures, inspired by nature’s architecture. Intimate spaces will be incorporated into the lush garden to encourage reflection and meditation. Slean will also create an original painting that will be displayed in the garden. Wood is a 2011 Juno Award nominee for Songwriter of the Year. Slean is a three-time Juno Award nominee.
Wood will take the stage on March 20 at 7:00 pm providing an opportunity for visitors to stop, relax and take in the beauty of the festival.
Chanté will also join in on the Canada Bloom festivities on March 24 at 3:00 pm, putting her artistic talents to use as she crafts a floral arrangement under the guidance of the experts.
Now in its 16th year, Canada Blooms was founded by Landscape Ontario and The Garden Club of Toronto. Canada Blooms has been named One of Ontario’s Top 100 Events by Festivals and Events Ontario, and One of North America’s Top 100 Events by the American Bus Association. Canada Blooms is also the recipient of the 2011 Garden Tourism Award for “Garden Tourism Festival of the Year”.
For more information and to purchase festival tickets please visit: www.canadablooms.com.
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