Sun Decks for Garter Snakes (2025)
Sun Decks for Garter Snakes is a sculptural intervention realised in Parc René Lévesque, along the shores of Montreal’s Lachine Canal. Comprised of two multi-level, biomorphic structures, the work is designed as a playground where garter snakes can bask in the sun, navigate, and claim a vantage point over the river.
Inspired by the thermal requirements of ectothermic life, the project responds to the delicate local ecosystem-specifically the brown snake, a species at risk endemic to this region of Quebec. Through a series of curved terraces, ramps, and interlocking volumes, the structures maximize solar absorption, reimagining the "sun deck" as a speculative habitat prototype rooted in interspecies care.
The work also serves as a conduit for human reflection. It invites a shift in perception: moving away from fear or utility toward an expanded imaginary where even the most overlooked creatures are recognized as beings capable of pleasure, play, and contemplation.
Sun Decks for Garter Snakes (2025). Temporary outdoor intervention, René Lévesque Park, Montreal, Canada. Two structures: wood, wood stain, and metal. Approximately 4’ x 4’ x 3’ each. Realized in the context of Île, fleuve, rivière. Montréal insulaire (Island, River, Stream. Montreal as an Island) a series of interventions around the island organised by Galerie B-312.
