The Kent Park Public Art Working Group is recommending metal sculptor Bryan Faubert for an art installation at Kent Park.
“The artist’s intention is to strategically place a number of 2 or 3D sculptures within the park, some flora and fauna, some animals, all native to Muskoka, adding to the site’s natural beauty, and merging the works into the surroundings, thus transforming the space into a sculpture garden. The formal elements and their layout in Kent Park will be decided in consultation with the Kent Park Public Art Working Group,” notes a report by Jacqueline Surette, Huntsville Manager of Recreation, Culture and Heritage, to Huntsville’s General Committee on Monday.
The working group is comprised of representation from the Huntsville Art Society, Muskoka Arts & Crafts, Huntsville Festival of the Arts, Huntsville BIA, and the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce. The group was formed to select an artist for the project through a request for proposals.
“This was a very rewarding and a very difficult process. We had over 40 submissions. Wonderful artwork, ” Surette told councillors.
Faubert is a master sculptor with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. His family has a cottage on Six Mile Lake. “His processes are varied and they range from welding to flame drawing. He uses these techniques to create works that cast a playful network of shadows that can be appreciated both by the passing of the sun during the day and by way of lighted elements during the night time,” explained Surette.
The $50,000 project is being funded from the Public Art Aquisition Fund ($35,000) and the Municipal Accommodation Tax Reserve Fund ($15,000).
Concerns about vandalism were raised. While everyone hopes that will not happen, Surette said that while all vandalism cannot be deterred, steel is somewhat vandal-proof. The artists will also be working with an engineer to try to shore up the sculptures as much as possible.
Councillor Helena Renwick, who helped guide the group, said the artwork will bring some life and excellent energy to Kent Park.
General Committee approved the recommendation.
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The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Very excited to see this artwork finished and installed, great choice!
Allen Markle says
Can’t imagine how many times I passed that corner in my years growing up here. When I first got a motorcycle it was the place to stop and get a quarters worth of gas on the way home. We got picked up on that corner on our way to out of town lacrosse games. And got dropped off there one morning by the cops when the thermometer on the front of Huntsville Hardware was pinned at minus 40. Either way, Celsius or Fahrenheit, it was damn cold.
But that corner was a part of the town from the beginning. Throughout all those years. Then the garage was gone, the little park that came after disappeared, then the trees and grass, ’til we arrived at what we have today. I guess it is an amalgamation of what a lot of locals wanted because it was finished after a lot of ‘local input’.
Today it’s a flat, uninteresting expanse of rock.
Now they are going to attempt to polish this little park up with some art. Metal rendering s of what I can find in the hills and ponds and bush nearby.
I can only wish them well. Maybe they will surprise. I’ve certainly been surprised so far.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Allen you are absolutely correct in what you are saying. I would only disagree on one point the public at large that I talked to were not in favour of what was done to the par we lost trees, grass and much needed parking!!! I think as usual in Huntsville final say always goes to a select few.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I wonder how much of my road could have been fixed with that money?