At its April 9 meeting, Lake of Bays Council approved the installation of two wooden sculptures at Dwight Beach at an estimated cost of about $7,100 after refundable HST.
The funds are included in the Township’s 2024 Economic Development Operating Budget.
According to a staff report presented by Township Director of Planning Services April Best-Sararas, the chainsaw sculptures will be made from several tall white pines partially cut down by the municipality as the trees were dying.
The report notes that the trees are now ideal for re-use/recycling as the base material for the project. “This location was chosen as it is regarded as a significant community and cultural hub.
According to the report to council, staff researched and reached out to several artists in the area and selected Jake Rhodes, owner of Northern Rhodes Artistry in Wood from Burk’s Falls, to complete the project.
“There will be annual maintenance required for the sculptures to clean and spray spar-varnish, which will be included in the Parks and Facilities annual operating budget moving forward (approximately $200 for materials),” according to staff.
“This investment in public art underlines a commitment to enriching the local landscape, fostering community engagement and celebrating the area’s cultural identity by utilizing one of the Township’s prime resources. It presents an opportunity to foster local public art, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic public space that residents and visitors alike can enjoy for decades,” adds the report.
The sculptures are expected to be completed in time for the May 24 long weekend. Work will begin on May 1 and take about three weeks.
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$7100.00 plus town supplies the tree plus $200.00 per year for maintenance materials and town supplies all labor to maintain.
Municipal over reach, or in short terms “hogwash”.
Too expensive. We shall see how long this experiment works out but I have a little feeling in the back of my brain that says there are better ways we could spend this money.