Field Notes 2023: Pete Wyer

September 2023: Pete Wyer

Explore Bloedel Reserve through the art, writings, and uniques perspectives of the Creative Residents during the time they are visiting the grounds. These entries give you a peek at works-in-progress, sources of inspiration, approaches to craft, exploration of new techniques, and more.

Ritual for the Western Red Cedar was absolutely not a piece I expected to make. I was Artist in Residence at Bloedel in October. I got chatting with Alison Stigora as she was making her installation. In response I made an ‘invisible ritual’ for the bracken meadow opposite (now in the moss garden).

It uses 9 solar powered audio devices spread out across the land. It begins with a ‘procession’ as instruments like flutes and drums move invisibly from one device to another through the space. Following this a choir of 72 voices (3 time Grammy winners, The Crossing) sing ‘Nya Wah’ – a song of thanks to nature, inspired by the Mohawk Thanksgiving ceremony (I worked with people from the Mohawk Nation on this in 2017)

I always hope my installations create a space for deeper listening, a place to become mindful of the small sounds and remember that, even amid the rush of our busy schedules there is still the quiet sound of our own heartbeat. I believe that the more connected we are, the happier we are, and therefore the better the world we live in is; we find that what benefits our environment, benefits us, what benefits others, benefits us.

-Pete Wyer