La Ceiba Inflatable Tree Installation

Martín Wannam's SEEK Raleigh Project "La Ceiba" was displayed in downtown Raleigh on September 15 El Pueblo's La Fiesta del Pueblo.

"La Ceiba," inspired by the sacred tree, is a 50-foot pink and yellow inflatable with a futuristic haze that aims to spread radical hope and evoke childhood memories and celebration for immigrant communities and queer folks in North Carolina.

With the creation of an oversized inflatable tree as the center of gathering with food, music, and political education, this project aims to strengthen the community and spark conversation. The intention of using the Ceiba tree as inspiration and the epicenter of the gathering comes first from the tree's ability to thrive in challenging environments, which symbolizes resilience and strength, and second, from using an inflatable as means of joy and celebration, something much needed in contemporary times where immigrants' and queer folks' rights are targeted.

Brightly colored inflatable La Ceiba tree

About the Artist

Martín Wannam

Martín Wannam (b. 1992, Guatemala) is a visual artist and educator whose work critically examines Guatemalan's historical, social, and political climate, focusing on dissident perspectives and freedom dreaming for the cuir individual. He works from an equatorial perspective on the intersection of brownness and wildness using the foundation of iconoclasm and the aesthetic of maximalism through the tools of photography, sculpture, and performance, exploring the individual and collective impact of immigration, systematic structures, utopia, and family.

Martin's Website | Martin's Instagram

About Fiesta del Pueblo

La Fiesta del Pueblo is the Triangle’s largest and most diverse festival of Latin American culture. The outdoor event is held each September and features live music and dance performances, artisanal vendors, food trucks, educational booths, and activities for the whole family!

About SEEK Raleigh

SEEK Raleigh is an experimental public art program by Raleigh Arts that engages the community through public art in City of Raleigh Parks, greenways, and/or community spaces. The program provides an opportunity for artists to introduce the public to new, unusual, and thought-provoking experiences through temporary public art.

Learn more and apply to the SEEK Raleigh artist call

About Raleigh Arts

Raleigh Arts, a part of the City of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department, fosters and promotes the arts in Raleigh by administering the programs of the Raleigh Arts Commission and the Public Art and Design Board and supporting the Pullen and Sertoma Arts Centers.

Contact

Kelly McChesney
Public Art Director
kelly.mcchesney@raleighnc.gov

Department:: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Service Categories:: Raleigh Arts

Related Services:: Public Art Arts Programs Arts Grants

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La Ceiba Inflatable Tree Installation

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