Not Far from the City of Gold

Not Far from the City of Gold

Not Far from the City of Gold, City of Val-d’Or, Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. Abitibi-Témiscaminque is the region with the largest area of vegetation in Canada; a land that breathes. To illustrate its relationship with this nature omnipresent in our city, reuse of recycled materials was an important component of producing this work.

This work evokes the benefits of recovery and use of mosses and lichens, depicting each aspect of biodiversity in Abitibi, a northern region. It presents the region’s fauna and flora in an ecological work that reflects a land of hope.

The creators worked the material and used pollution bio-indicators, such as boreal lichen - extremely sensitive to air pollution- which is abundant in Abitibi. This was no random choice: mosses can tolerate extended droughts and spring back to life with just a little rain.

Lichens consist of two very distinct organisms: a fungus, which constitutes most of what is visible, and a microscopic alga or cyanobacterium that lives on its surface in a symbiotic relationship, as each needs the other to survive.

This Land of Hope was produced by primary school students in the Val-d’Or’s Commission scolaire de l'or et des bois. They were mentored throughout this magnificent endeavour by artist and teacher Pierrette Lambert, creator of the concept of Not Far from the City of Gold.

Abitibi-Témiscaminque is the region with the largest area of vegetation in Quebec and in Canada. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

; a land that breathes. To illustrate its relationship with this nature omnipresent in our city, reuse of recycled materials was an important component of producing this work. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

This work evokes the benefits of recovery and use of mosses and lichens in Abitibi, a Quebec's northern region. It presents the region’s fauna and flora in an ecological work that reflects a land of hope. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

Mosses can tolerate extended droughts and spring back to life with just a little rain. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

The creators worked the material and used pollution bio-indicators, such as boreal lichen which is abundant in Abitibi. This was no random choice: mosses can tolerate extended droughts and spring back to life with just a little rain. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

This Land of Hope was produced by primary school students in the Val-d’Or’s Commission scolaire de l'or et des bois. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

The students were mentored by artist and teacher Pierrette Lambert, creator of the concept of Not Far from the City of Gold. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

Boreal lichen - extremely sensitive to air pollution- which is abundant in Abitibi, was no random choice: mosses can tolerate extended droughts and spring back to life with just a little rain. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com

This artwork presents the region’s fauna and flora in an ecological work that reflects a land of hope. Photo: © ProvinceQuebec.com