Blackie Spit
This street banner designis a tribute to Surrey’s lowland floodplains: rich sources of nutrients for fish and wildlife and a beloved gateway to nature that both citizens and visitors enjoy.
Artist: Debbie Westergaard Tuepah
Category: Temporary public art: street banners
Year Installed: 2019
About Blackie Spit
Blackie Spit is a detail from one of Tuepah’s paintings of the same name. It is a tribute to Surrey’s lowland floodplains: rich sources of nutrients for fish and wildlife and a beloved gateway to nature that both citizens and visitors enjoy. The artwork’s thick brushstrokes and strong sense of movement mimic water's powerful force within this intertidal zone.
The banner is also a call to action. Tuepah has seen first-hand how climate change has altered our waterways. She says, “As a child on the Fraser, eulachon runs were strong, fishing was abundant, canneries were busy, and our estuaries were healthy. This is no longer the case. Moreover, predicted sea level rise leaves low-lying coastal floodplains and communities at risk.” Blackie Spit is a call for change and to support ongoing efforts to conserve our natural landscapes and create sustainable communities.
About the artist
Debbie Westergaard Tuepah is a long-time contributor to the Surrey arts scene, being one of the founding members of the curatorial collective AgentC Projects.