The University of West Florida Historic Trust was awarded a grant by Foo Foo Fest and ACE to present The Blue Trees, an environmental art installation by Australian artist, Konstantin Dimopoulos, from November 1-9 in conjunction with Foo Foo Fest 2024.
The trees along Zaragoza Street between Tarragona and Jefferson Streets will be transformed into a striking blue forest during the environmental art installation this fall. The Blue Trees is an ongoing international art installation that Dimopoulos has created in 36 cities around the world to date, where, with the help of the community, living trees are colored blue using an environmentally-safe watercolor. The Trust will be welcoming community volunteers to help brush the pigment on the trees under the direction of the artist before a series of planned events around the trees.
“The participatory nature of the installation invites the community to become, in essence, an artist while generating discussions on environmental issues,” said Wendi Davis, UWF Historic Trust Visitor Experience Manager and lead on the project. “The goal of The Blue Trees experience is to use art to raise awareness about deforestation and the importance of trees to people, all living creatures, and their environment; and, to engage local communities in art.”
Dimopoulos feels strongly about the connection of The Blue Trees and the community. “Wherever I have created The Blue Trees I meet people who have never entered an art gallery,” Konstantin says. “By helping me color the trees they are artists too, and this gives them the confidence to visit galleries and other arts venues, broadening their experiences.”
“Trees are purveyors of water, consumers of carbon and treasure houses of species,” Dimopoulos noted. “The world’s forests are ecological miracles and must not be allowed to vanish. The Blue Trees raises the wide-ranging importance of trees psychologically, emotionally, environmentally and economically.”
“This installation provides an opportunity to enrich the city’s cultural fabric, promote tourism, provide a legacy of community engagement and bring awareness to the role of trees in city beautification,” says Davis.
The colorant used on the trees is water-based and has been developed speci?cally for this artwork series. The colorant is also safe for plants, animals, insects, humans and waterways and has been used in all 36 previous installations.
The UWF Historic Trust is planning multiple events to be held around the trees in November. A ‘Blue Cheese and Blue Trees’ wine and cheese reception will be a ticketed event held on November 6 to celebrate the art installation. An Environmental Art Market will also be held at Museum Plaza on November 8 around the trees. The Trust has invited community groups to host events like art workshops, book clubs, yoga classes and environmental discussions under the trees, as well.
To learn more, visit historicpensacola.org.
