On a chilly November day aerial photographer and artist Daniel Dancer worked with students and teachers at Barbara Reid P.S. to create a fabulous sky painting: “Tree of Change”. Teams had begun the day before to create a grid in the schoolyard and laid down the design using topsoil.
On the day of the photo shoot a light dusting of snow had to be cleared off the outline, and then the Whitchurch Stouffville Firefighters arrived with the ladder truck. The whole school population came out onto the tarmac. Primary students dressed in grey, black or brown to form the roots, trunk and branches. Junior students wore red, yellow and orange to become the leaves. People are the paint in this art form!
Daniel, Principal Lynne Cohen and Sky Captains helped guide everyone into position. On the count of three a Firefighter took the photo from HIGH above. It was cold and windy, but as promised, students held their positions for a minute of silence. A second countdown signalled the leaves to stand and swirl off the field, followed by the branches roots and trunk. You can watch a video of the whole process here.
The image is of a tree, with the word RUSH and the number 412. RUSH is the school emblem and stands for Respect, Unity, Strength and Heart. 412 is the average level fo CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere, the highest in the last 20 million years. Learn more about Daniel Dancer’s stunning art and environmental message here.
It was a huge honour and a privilege for my husband Ian Crysler and me to take part in this inspiring event. I was a red leaf in the photo – can you spot me? Sky, a tree and a schoolyard full of happy kids creating art – it doesn’t get much better! Thanks to everyone at BRPS for inviting us, and for your high spirits and energy.
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- Principal Lynne Cohen, VP Gregory Hambly; Barbara Reid and Ian Crysler & Firefighters ready for action
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- Leaves and branches take positions
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- Tree of Change, art for the sky
