New Art Piece For Downtown

The site of a new art piece being created as part of the North Okanagan RespectFEST has been revealed by local officials.

The winding mosaic river will be inlayed into the sidewalk on the east side of 30th Street across from the Greyhound depot.

The art work signifying the cycle of water is the design of Gabrielle Strong, a Métis woman and graduate of Emily Carr University of Art Design.

The piece will incorporate a range of materials, including mosaic segments, etched line-work, and various shades of blue and green acid-staining.

Over the coming weeks, Ms. Strong will work with various groups, youth, and the public to create the participatory public art piece. She says she hopes the process and the final art will inspire respect within our community and a shared commitment to the environment regardless of culture, race or background.

The public art piece has been funded by the Downtown Vernon Association, the City of Vernon, and the Government of Canada as a legacy project of North Okanagan RespectFEST which marks Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation.

The art will be featured during RespectFEST 2017, the week-long festival running September 18-24, 2017 throughout Vernon.

Photo: (L-R) Councillor Juliette Cunningham, Councillor Catherine Lord, MP Mel Arnold, Social Planning Council Executive Director Annette Sharkey, Downtown Vernon Association Member Services Coordinator Dina Mostat, and artist Gabrielle Strong mark the spot on the sidewalk just south of the Elks Club on 30th Street where the public art will be installed as part of North Okanagan RespectFEST 2017.