The Department of Parks is pleased to work with Bermudian artist Nicky Gurret in displaying an eye-popping art installation at the Crow Lane roundabout in honour of the upcoming Remembrance Day holiday.
Under the theme “Remember Forever”, Ms Gurret’s public exhibit uses the symbolic red poppy to pay tribute to those who died during past and present wars.
To complete her design, she cut out approximately 1,000 plastic bottles from around the Island, including a large donation from Butterfield and Vallis that were painted red and attached to green sticks to resemble poppies.
The display is meant to replicate a field of wildflower poppies, which is closely associated with Armistice Day, which was achieved on 11 November 1918 at the close of World War I.
Ms Gurret, an internationally acclaimed floral artist, said: “Not only is the exhibit to remember forever those who died in wars, but to alert the public that plastic is also forever.
“According to the World Wild Life Fund, a plastic water bottle takes 450 years to decompose.”
Ms Gurret initially approached the Department in 2021 with her idea. However, it had to be suspended due to the pandemic.
When she contacted the Department to renew her interest this year, the Department again approved her proposal.
The exhibit was installed over the weekend and is likely to remain for approximately two to three weeks.
A spokesperson for the Department of Parks stated: “We quickly granted Ms Gurret’s request due to the creativity and sense of reflection her display would convey as we’re about to mark Remembrance Day.
“Her theme’s dual message of environmental sustainability is also fitting as Government continues to move forward with its strategy to eliminate single-use plastics.
“Some of Ms Gurret’s past creations for our Department include ‘The Natural Heart’ and ‘Connections’ exhibits for the Somerset Railway Trail.
“She is no stranger to installations at the Crow Lane roundabout where in 2020, she created and installed a display entitled ‘Transformations’ which was comprised of more than 500 blue butterflies made from aluminium soda cans.”