SculptureWalk nearing finale after banner year
By Kyra Hoggan
An incident of vandalism over the weekend has not slowed the momentum of Castlegar SculptureWalk, according to organizer Pat Field, who said the damage is currently being repaired.
Field said the damage to a stone in the sculpture entitled The Dawn, by Nelson artist Denis Kleine, is estimated at around $1,200, but will be fixed and the statue back on its pedestal by next week.
Field, barely an hour ago as of this posting, posted a video on You Tube (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN6ucpEJBgc ) that he himself produced and narrated.
“It’s a nine-minute video clip about what SculptureWalk is, where we’re going, and how we might arrive,” he said. “Absolutely, this is part of the innovation twist – we have to tap into social media and technology to keep local people engaged.
“The younger generation is totally hooked into that social media, so old farts like me need to learn how to capitalize on it,” he said.
He said he’s hoping young people will participate in the voting process, choosing the sculpture that will remain in the city until long after kids today have kids of their own.
“I’d like to challenge local schools and clubs and organizations – even family reunions – to participate in choosing part of Castlegar’s landscape for decades to come,” he said.
He said September is kind of a “shoulder month” in which the sculptures enjoy less attention than during the summer – except from those who are drumming up support for their favourites – and he’d like to see the initiative go out with a bang at the end of the month.
“It’s been a great year, with 26 sculptures and lots of voting going on,” he said. “The SculptureWalk Gala, during which the winner will be announced, will be held at the Element Oct. 1, with dinner reservations starting at 5 p.m. The awards will run between 7 – 8 p.m., and the dinner theatre this year will begin at 8 p.m.”
The dinner theatre will be a comedy called Here on the Flight Path, presented by Many Hat Theatre Company. For more information or to book tickets, call the Element at 250-365-8066.
