See how this UBCO artist gives new meaning to 'stick people'!

A few weeks back, a photo posted in a Kelowna Facebook group sparked a wave of curiosity and intrigue.

It showed two people made entirely of sticks, standing along the Glenmore Highlands hiking trail.

So, who was behind these mysterious woodland creations? The answer: Carmen Bouvier.

The UBCO Visual Arts student is also well versed in other art forms, but working with sticks has a unique significance.

"I'm kind of a jack of all trades. I paint, I do sculptures with other found material, wire is a fun thing I like to use, drawing ... but sticks, it's something that I've gotten really attached to," Bouvier told Kelowna10. "I've really built on that more than the other materials, especially because I like to know about the plants that grow in the valley."

Bouvier's work typically takes between 72-150 hours, the majority of which is foraging for materials to look for the right sticks, branches, moss. Once collected, they're carefully arranged into position to achieve the perfect outline.

"I go out into the woods and I look for very specific shapes. I have a box of finger shaped sticks here to make fingers out of palms, but I look for them very specifically," Bouvier said. "I have a sharp eye I like to think. Now whenever I look at any stick, I'm like, 'that could be a good shoulder, that could be a good nose or something like that.'"

Although describing themselves as a private person, Bouvier finds it rewarding to see others engage with the sculptures and appreciate the beauty of them.

“I'm glad people are seeing the art and appreciating it in their own ways,” they said. "People have said a lot of nice things, and it means a lot."

If you want to see their works for yourself, you can check out the Glenmore hiking trail, or their latest creation at UBCO campus.