Big changes were made to the Town of Canmore’s public art program earlier this month when council voted to approve two locations for murals to celebrate Canada’s 150th, and cancelled a 2016 project along Cougar Creek.
The Cougar Creek public art location and $130,000 capital project were approved for 2016, however, there were issues with the location along the creek’s pathway, according to Chris Bartolomie, supervisor of arts and events.
“The orientation was difficult to manage and the submissions we received did not meet our expectations for the site selected,” she said.
Even a change in location along the creek did not result in a better fit for the public art jury and committee, and two of three artists shortlisted left the competition to pursue other projects.
As a result, council cancelled the project at administration’s recommendation, and the funds not used, according to Bartolomie, will remain within the public art trust fund – which collects $3 per person each year through property taxes.
Deputy Mayor Vi Sandford thanked the committee for coming back with its recommendation, and not just moving forward with an art project that did not meet expectations.
“I know how much experience your committee has, so I value the direction of not just accepting any proposal that comes forward,” Sandford said.
As for the new public art locations and projects slated for 2017 and celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of confederation, Bartolomie presented three locations and three projects for Canmore this year.
The first, and the newest, is a public art walk site along a public pathway on the south side of the Bow River adjacent to the playground and Mountain Shadows housing development. Bartolomie said due to the high level of engagement they received about the public art walk a year ago that was created to promote spectators walking to the Nordic Centre to watch world cup racing events, they are proposing another one this year.
“The theme of this temporary art installation is to celebrate Canada’s 150th looking back and looking forward,” she said, adding there are up to eight locations along the trail that artists can choose from to work with and the temporary art pieces would be in place from July to October.
As per council’s public art policy, all locations where artwork is to be installed requires approval by council. The $10,000 art walk location received unanimous support.
The final two approvals council provided for public art at the meeting were locations for a youth mural at the Canmore Rec Centre and a street mural on the roadway in front of the Civic Centre on Seventh Avenue.
Council had some questions around the Rec Centre location, as the facility is due for a major capital renovation in 2018. General manager of municipal infrastructure Michael Fark said use of a wall for the mural would not interfere or be affected by the capital project.
“The redesign we are currently planning for the Rec Centre does not include at this time an expansion of the footprint of the building that would result in movement of that wall,” Fark said.
The street mural would also aim to celebrate Canada’s 150th and has a budget of $50,250, with all but $5,000 coming from grant funding. The idea of road murals, said Bartolomie, is they use simple designs as a way to slow down traffic and engage the community.
The location was chosen because it is already a dynamic space for the community with local events and farmers markets occurring every week throughout summer. The Canmore Folk Music Festival also hosts a free concert at the Civic Centre on the Friday of the August long weekend.
The creativity of all the various public art projects for 2017 were welcomed by council.
“I am really delighted to see what is going to be produced,” Councillor Sean Krausert said. “Public art is something that contributes so much to the texture and feel in the community, so utilizing these spaces in this manner is exciting.”
