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Roberley Bell

American, born 1955

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Locus Amoenus,

Public Artwork Details

Materials:

Chain link with powder coating, welded and forged polychrome steel urns, and weathered cast-plaster birds with tree trunk

Former Location: Tifft Nature Preserve

The sculptures in Locus Amoenus, 2016, were created by Roberley Bell, whose work regularly explores aspects of our environment. The works are designed to draw attention to the significant human interventions necessary to protect and maintain the fragile ecosystem at the Tifft Nature Preserve.

The most prevalent mature trees at Tifft are shallow rooting and short-lived, making them vulnerable to strong winds coming off Lake Erie. In an effort to diversify and protect the landscape and tree canopy at the Preserve, more than 2,000 long-lived native species were planted between 2009 and 2015 to enhance tree regeneration and to provide a more diverse and sustainable ecosystem. These trees are young and vulnerable, especially to deer and beaver, and require special protection in the form of enclosures surrounding the trunks.

This installation relies on the dramatic and unexpected usage of color and materials to bring awareness to the necessary protective cages surrounding newly planted trees. By focusing attention on the fragility of the land at Tifft, the artist hopes to inspire your thoughtful participation and sensitive stewardship in the maintenance and health of our environment and our shared landscapes.

Led by the Buffalo Museum of Science, the planting efforts at Tifft Nature Preserve will ensure and improve valuable habitats for wildlife, especially migrating songbirds. Although the major planting effort is complete, management will continue with additional maintenance and monitoring of tree health and survival.

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

Installation view of Roberley Bell's Locus Amoenus, 2016, at Tifft Nature Preserve. Photograph by Tom Loonan.

About Roberley Bell

Roberley Bell (American, born 1955) creates sculpture and site-specific public projects that explore aspects of our environment by abstracting natural forms, appropriating manufactured objects, and repurposing artifacts to craft fantastical landscapes. She is interested in the space where the artificial meets the real, and with deconstructing notions of idealized views of nature. Bell strives to employ our imagination and our senses even as we are forced to examine our relationships with the spaces around us. Visit Roberley Bell’s Website

Initiative Sponsors

The Public Art Initiative is supported by the County of Erie and the City of Buffalo.

Project Sponsors

This project is presented by the museum's Public Art Initiative in partnership with the Buffalo Museum of Science and Tifft Nature Preserve.

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