The ugliest 50-metre stretch of wall on Bowen Island is set to get its Cinderella moment.
Bowen Island Municipality’s Public Art Advisory Committee is soon issuing a call for artists’ proposals for a series of panels along the lock-block wall on the north side of Bowen’s entryway.
Traditionally, the island’s kids have painted the wall, and the committee had planned on keeping youth involved in a public art project, but given the pandemic, the committee shifted its attention.
In the meantime, Sangre de Fruta Botanicals approached the committee about making a donation toward public art. “The committee decided, well, maybe this is a great opportunity to really do something spectacular for the lock-block wall with unexpected and substantial funding from outside,” says Scott Massey, chair of the public art committee. The committee was able to match the local business’ funding.
The lock-block wall as a substrate for art is fundamentally a disaster, says Scott Massey. By Bronwyn Beairsto
“The lock-block wall itself as a substrate for art, it’s fundamentally a disaster,” says Massey. The wall is pock-marked and uneven, with layers of paint, decades of scars and frequent gaps. “If you want the finished product to actually look professional, painting directly on the lock-block wall, unless you are some incredibly experienced muralist, which I don't think we have on the island, but I could be wrong – it would just end up looking really quite awful.”
Instead, the committee is providing four-foot by eight-foot panels of medium density overlay board (used for making highway signs) that can be delivered right to artists’ studios. This also solves the problem of artists trying to paint along the Cove’s bottleneck pathway during a pandemic.
“The beauty of these [panels] is that they can be removed and repainted and reused at any time in the future or swapped out,” says Massey.
While painting is the obvious media choice, “If people like to get a little bit Rauschenberg and want to stick their chewed gum remnants on it or bottle caps or things like that, I’m sure we’re open to that kind of thing,” says Massey.
Given that they have 12 panels total, the committee is looking to likely hire four artists or groups of artists to paint three panels each with themes of local flora and fauna or seasons.
With the open call for ideas set to go out in the next week or so and close June 1, artwork would be expected for mid to late August. The committee is set to pay $1,000 per panel, materials included.
By the time the work’s installed – perhaps the end of summer – Massey hopes COVID-19 will have lifted enough for some community celebration.
Massey also notes that public art is expensive, “Even the simplest things, they end up costing a fortune.” So if any locals or businesses are interested in supporting the project, the committee is more than happy to talk with them. “And there will be a donor recognition plaque installed as well. Just recognizing everybody's contribution,” says Massey. Massey also thanks the public art committee, “It's been an immense amount of effort to get to this point.
“There's a lot of hidden details in getting all this stuff move through.”
The PAAC was struck in 2019 to give BIM council advice and recommendations on integrating art into public spaces on Bowen. BIM Council makes the ultimate decision regarding public art on Bowen.
