Celebrating the creativity of North Vancouver's arts and culture scene, these video vignettes provide a look at some of the unique public art works that can be found in our community.
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Learn about public art in North Vancouver and listen to artist Nathan Lee share his insights into the value and meaning of public art as well as the inspiration behind his installation Lost Cows of Lillooet.
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Site Memories: Murmuring Crows by artist Ingrid Kiovukangus creates a connection from the past to the present, from the natural world to the industrial, from the world of site memories to the present day. The crows and corresponding text that are sand blasted onto boulders along the Spirit Trail share Crow mythology evoke memories of an historic ship called the Benjamin Sewall.
The Benjamin Sewall was one of the last of the tall ships to load first growth timbers from Moodyville Mills. Her story is stamped directly into the asphalt as part of the art work. An aluminum crow is installed on one of the three Douglas Fir trees that make up the art work.The trees represent the centre mast of the Benjamin Sewall where a crows nest would have been located.
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The Word to Your Motherland mural transformed a large exterior wall at a North Vancouver homeless shelter in the City of North Vancouver. Lead by Creativa International, a Vancouver based not-for-profit arts organization, Word to Your Mothlerland is a collaboration between California based artists Nisha K. Sembi and Miguel “Bounce” Perez and local artists Corey Bulpitt and Take5, with support from residents of the North Shore Lookout Shelter and local youth. Additional support was received from NVRC's Community Public Art program, the City of North Vancouver, Neptune Shipping, and H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society.
The Word to Your Motherland mural affirms the capacity of the arts to bring people together not only from different cultural backgrounds, but economic, international, and experiential backgrounds and to build bridges of respect and understanding.
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Functional, Mosaic, Sculpture by Paul Slipper and Mary Ann Liu
With a sense of humour and light heartedness, The Living Lounge is an example of user-friendly public art. Created through the District of North Vancouver’s Public Art Program, the art work consists of eight large sculpted cushions fabricated from various colours of granite, a stylized Persian carpet made of pebbles, and two decorative screens. The sculptures have transformed a once-empty nook in Lynn Valley Village into a calm and comfortable outdoor lounge that invites passers-by to sit down, relax and have some fun.
Watch the video of artists Paul Slipper & Mary Ann Liu discussing their public artwork The Living Lounge.
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Indigenous sculpture by Jody Broomfield
These four Salish designed salmon represent mature male and female salmon that are born in local rivers and then make their way to the sea as fingerlings. After four years they return to the waters of their birth to spawn, die, and repeat the great cycle of life once again. The female salmon arches downward to symbolize the laying of eggs. The male salmon arches upward, representing the moment of fertilization.
Watch the video of artist Jody Broomfield discussing his public artwork Return of the Spawning Salmon.
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Functional sculpture by Peter Peirobon & Sibeal Foyle
Originally installed as an artistic bike barrier on the low level road in 2002, this sculptural work was relocated to Esplanade Avenue in 2014, as part of the Port Metro road realignment project. Each pole is topped with a painted cedar sculpture which pivots in the wind, depicting symbols that relate to the old logging town of Moodyville that once flourished here. Look closely and you will see a wheat sheaf, a fiddlehead, clouds, fish, a bighorn, a stylized bucksaw, a feather, fern, a broom and gears. The installation serves both as a piece of public art and as a protective barrier from roadway traffic for pedestrians and cyclists.
Watch the video of artist Peter Pierobon discussing the Essential Elements public artwork.
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Prepare to be amazed! With over 150 pieces in the collection, North Vancouver’s public art encompasses all types of media. From eye catching sculptures and mosaics to temporary installations and digital works, public art is a standout feature in civic plazas, municipal buildings and commercial developments throughout the City and District of North Vancouver. Located in parks, along roadways, and integrated along nature trails and greenways, public art helps us celebrate the cultural spirit and identity of our community.