Sculpturewalk: Saturday slated for art attack
By Kyra Hoggan
Castlegar Sculpturewalk will finally get its moment in the sun this Saturday, as the 16 finalist sculptures are finally installed and unveiled in the city’s core.
Sculpturewalk volunteer Darlene Kalawsky said this is a much-anticipated moment for many residents.
“It’s extremely exciting – you can feel the energy building,” she said, adding it has entailed more work than one would ever guess.
“Pat (organizer Pat Field) has a team of welders, city workers, fabricators and artists ready to put up the sculptures Saturday morning,” she said. “The pedestals are already in place, but the pieces have to be welded to them – it’s a bit more challenging, in the first year, to get everything done on a tight timeline, but I think Pat’s ready to make it happen.”
She said the 16 art pieces will all be within easy walking distance, beginning with two in front of the Kootenay Market Plaza. Four more will be displayed in front of Castlewood Village, and another three will adorn the Spirit Square adjacent to City Hall. Others can be enjoyed in front of Field’s department store, the Fourth Street plaza, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Pharmasave, and the Creative Edge art gallery, with the final two jazzing up the Station Museum grounds.
Starting June 7, there will be brochures and ballots available so residents can vote for their favourite piece – the brochures can be picked up at City Hall, the Complex, the Kootenay Art Gallery or at one of the five ballot boxes that will be installed next to the sculpures themselves.
Balloting will close in September, and the People’s Choice winner will be purchased by the city and put on permanent display. The other 15 pieces will then be for sale.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to see the work of local and international artists,” Kalawsky said. “This has been an amazing effort by the community and local merchants, and we’ve had great civic leadership from City Hall and the Columbia Basin Trust in the drive to make this a reality.”
