Birdstock 2011. “Chalk one up for Peace”  Sept 11, 2011 (10 year anniversary of 9/11)

It is Time For Peace …

On Saturday Feb 5, members of the bird rock community gathered to honor Joe La Cava (past BRCC president)  and celebrate his leadership and perseverance to make the Waverly Gate a reality, as well as  his stewardship over the years for the Bird Rock Community!!! A special plaque commemorating Joe is featured in the center of the Bird Rock community wall located at the new Waverly entrance to the field behind Bird Rock Elementary.

Joe Parker, current BRCC president , led the dedication ceremony informing those gathered that, ”The Community Wall has a 3 fold purpose: To honor Joe, fundraise for Bird Rock Elementary, and connect the community together through a beautification project.” Each tile was hand stamped with the family name, in memory of a loved one, children,pet, etc. to create a mini collage of bird rock families and the diverse community. Fused glass imbedded in the wall was created by community members at Birdstock 2010, and mini tiles with the street names in Bird Rock are hidden throughout.

Pam Garvey & Jane Wheeler coordinated the project with a collaboration of  community  members to help install and grout the wall including:  April Schug, Shannon Cunningham, Cathy Riley, Stacey Haerr, Sarah Feeney, Marie Hemming, Margaret Ohara, Delphine Ferenczy,  Linda Dowley, and Anne Telford. Thank you Bird Rock for creating a wall of memories, friendship and gratitude for all to enjoy!

Read More in the La Jolla Light.

Art Alive appeared as the Bird Rock community created a visual message of PEACE at the 1st annual Birdstock event held in Bird Rock Park behind Bird Rock Elementary School. Numerous community members of all ages gathered for a group photo around the Andy Goldsworthy inspired temporary art installation. The design team led by Bird Rock 7th grader/artist Eric Haerr formed a 15 ft. diameter giant peace sign comprised of flowers foliage & natural elements from neighborhood gardens and the beach.

It was quite a sight to see, watching children & adults add a piece to the peace, and organically fabricate a big message to send out into the world. Was it a coincidence that the date of Birdstock happened to fall on the anniversary of 9/11?

Read about the Event

Jane is continuing "Art Alive" in Bird Rock, with the completion of bench #3 "Children are Our Future", located between Lupi Restaurant and Bahia on La Jolla Blvd. The other 2 benches can be viewed in front of Little Locks "Bird Rock by the Sea – in Blues" and in front of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters “ A Tribute to Joe Parker Sr”. She is starting to work on bench #4 “ Love Your Community”.

Read about the benches in the San Diego Reader (Nov. 2009)
Read about the benches in the La Jolla Light (March 2010)
Read about the benches in the LJ Village News (March 2010)

Update June 21, 2010

Jane & Cathy have just completed bench #4 titled “Love Your Community”. The bench includes a new fused glass feature that adds sparkle along with new antique stamped words in clay. Check it out in front of La Jolla Lighting 5640 La Jolla Blvd.!

Read about the benches in the La Jolla Light (July 2010)
Read the Bird Rock Community Council Blog (July 2010)
Read the La Jolla Light Editorial

"Circle of Life” Bench #5 Completed December 18, 2010

“Circle of Life” is the theme for the 5th and final bench in the 5 bench series of the Bird Rock Community Council mosaic bench beautification project. The 5th bench was created using a green palate of mixed tessare and features Mexican smalti, Murano Italy milefiori, fused glass hand made by the Dunklee family (bench sponsors) and Grace Feeney& Niki Schroeder –students from Muirlands Middle School. The stones on top and surrounding the bench are hand picked agates from Agate Beach, CA and various stones the Wheeler family collected along the Oregon Coast this summer.

The theme “Circle of Life” was inspired by a trip to Sedona, AZ and an encounter with the Native American Medicine Wheel - Circle of Life which symbolizes “The Individual Journey We Each Must Take To Find Our Own Path”. Each of the 4 directions North, South, East, West represents a part of this path and the different stages in one’s life. Inspirational quotes are noted at each direction. The children’s hand prints symbolize the youth in the circle of life and the fused glass was created by 3 generations of the Dunklee family- grandparents, parents, and grandchildren. Nautilus fossils represent nature and the spiral of life that is ongoing, ever changing and always creating. Old is imbedded in the new.

The “Circle” also represents the last of the 5 benches in the series, tying them all together to create a transformation of beauty & functional art on the Boulevard in Bird Rock. These benches were salvaged by Joe La Cava (past BRCC president) several years ago when they were destined to be taken out and replaced. Instead they have been recycled into an inspiration for the community which was supported, sponsored and created by members of the BRCC and Bird Rock community.

Read the La Jolla Light Editorial