From three vantage points at Crystal Crescent beach, participants are invited to hold their phone up to the ocean, in the direction of the Northeast Channel. Through this lens, whimsical and vibrant watercolour paintings of cold water coral appear on the screen as if emerging from the distant ocean. Participants can zoom in on the coral images and marvel at the intricacies of these species, as well as in the details of aqueous paint. The otherwise unseeable coral is brought to life through augmented reality and artistic interpretation.
The three vantage points are described in the “View the Art” section.
For people using wheelchairs, all 3 images are accessible from the the first stop, “Coral #1”, in order to access the locations for Coral #2 and #3, you have to go down a few steps.
Coral Vision is a project that utilizes traditional watercolour painting as well as new technologies in augmented reality to make visible the magic of corals, otherwise hidden to us. The goal of Cold Water Vision is to raise awareness of the threats of ocean warming, acidification and destructive fishing practices, specifically in relation to the significant colonies of seacorn and bubblegum coral found along the Northeast Channel of the Scotian Shelf.
The projects at Crystal Crescent Beach and Clarks Harbour have an Augmented Reality feature that will only work on iPhones. Android users will view a film version of the AR experience.
Megan Fitzgerald (she/her) is an artist originally from Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) and currently based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax). She works within a place-responsive practice to address themes of wonder and resonance, responding to notions of the unseen landscape. Megan received a Diplome des Beaux-Arts from Dawson College in 2012 and a BFA in 2016 from OCAD University, where she studied Art History in Florence, Italy. Since then, she has travelled extensively by foot, partaking in residencies in Spain and the United Kingdom, NGO projects in Vietnam, and art education assignments at various European and Canadian institutions.
Megan is currently an MFA candidate at NSCAD University and is researching natural pigments and painting as an expanded practice. Her work considers fantastical tales, magic and speculative fabulation as productive tools to relate to the world.
In 1996, Ecology Action Centre volunteers with backgrounds in marine science formed the Marine Issues Committee. That same year, in response to local fishermen bringing in chunks of coral they had found in their nets, the committee initiated a research project to gather all available information on deep sea corals from across the globe. It became clear that many researchers were studying cold water corals in relative isolation from each other. The small group put out a call for papers and were amazed to hear back from over 14 countries (by fax!). In 2000, the first International Deep Sea Coral Conference was held in Halifax and began to bridge gaps in knowledge and bring attention to cold water corals. Since then, 7 conferences have been held around the world, and government scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have recognized the fundamental significance of coral communities and the importance of protecting them to conserve marine biodiversity. This foundational research contributed to successfully protecting several sensitive areas where important corals are found. However, public knowledge of deep-sea corals remains misunderstood, and living at several hundred feet below sea level, they remain largely a mystery. There is a great deal we still do not know about these species.
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The Art: For people using wheelchairs, all 3 images are accessible from the the first stop, Coral #1. To access the locations for Coral #2 and #3, you have to go down a few steps.
Step 1: From the first parking lot at Crystal Crescent Beach, head towards the beach, keeping the public restrooms on your left.
Proceed for about 30 feet until you reach the edge of the packed gravel space.
With the app open, direct your phone to the ocean and press the button below.
For people using wheelchairs, all 3 images are accessible from the the first stop, Coral #1. To access the locations for Coral #2 and #3, you have to go down a few steps.
From the first parking lot at Crystal Crescent Beach, head along the sloped path toward the beach
Before the steps bear right and continue along the boardwalk Proceed along the boardwalk path to your right for about 400 meters until you reach a pair of wooden handrails.
With the app open, direct your phone to the ocean in the direction of the large boulder to your right.
Tap the button below when you are ready.
Step 3:
Continue along the boardwalk to a path that branches to the left up a small hill.
At the top of the hill, direct your phone at the large Boulder on the rocky point to your right.
Press the button below when you are ready.