Starting with a pattern drawing workshop, our group of sewers designed images based loosely on Islamic mosaic and rug imagery.

Designs were transferred onto heavy fabric and embroidered by a group of newcomer women who met with us regularly to sew.

We then worked with a group of youth to realize the pavers through a concrete pouring workshop.

We then worked with a group of all ages to install the pavers around the fire pit. ARTISTS AND SPECIALISTS: Lead - Anne Miller: Engineer/Architect Student; Marianne Alas: Sewing. Parker Dirks: Workshop Facilitator and Installer.

MABELLEartists learned the pebble mosaic technique and created a series of easily executed designs based on what we called “community iconography” or reoccurring images/themes.

MABELLEartists taught community members the pebble mosaic technique. We worked with approximately fifty community members of all ages to realize the designs.

We invited Vancouver mosaic artist Glen Anderson to MABELLEpark to help us install our mosaics.

We then worked with a group of all ages to install the pavers around the fire pit. ARTISTS AND SPECIALISTS: Kathrine Doody - Artist who shared mosaic technique. Glen Anderson: installation. Leah Houston and Sonia Rainey: workshop facilitators.

In 2014 we lost a number of trees to a combination of Emerald Ash Borer infestation and an ice storm. We worked with Storyboard Furniture to harvest the deadfall into a range of items for the park.

We worked with Landscape Architect Amy Turner to created a stepped slope.

We worked with Landscape Architect Amy Turner to create this deadfall surface beside the wild garden.

We worked with Storyboard Furniture who milled these wedges on site and worked with community members to finish.

We have used fire to celebrate, gather, reflect, cook and relax.

We first started having fires in 2013, after a failed experiment with a cob bake oven. We found that no one in the community could actually bake with fire and so our oven was underused. In 2013 we destroyed it, leaving a cooking fire pit in its place. We found that many women in the community had lots of experience cooking with open flame.

Here a community-made boat from a distant homeland is burned in a new land.

The Firekeeper is another example of community iconography, here represented as a kind of warrior. There is a tradition we have in our community that a child nearing adolescence is named Firekeeper for a year or so. Their job is to feed the fire and keep those enjoying it safe.