In case you haven’t noticed, there’s much more now to the Chemainus mural collection than painted scenes on walls.
The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society has been complementing the outdoor art gallery in recent years with sculptures. The society has expanded its horizons further with the addition of wind sculptures.
“Wind sculptures is kind of a unique addition, something that has motion and a different kind of attraction,” said Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews.
“We were just thinking of different ideas to enhance the experience for visitors.”
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The sculptures were recently installed by the Municipality of North Cowichan across from the Chemainus Theatre at the corner of Chemainus Road and Victoria Street. They’re set in what’s become a park-like setting at that location with the addition of seating areas and Andrews proposes the Chemainus Rotary Club might become involved at some point to supply further picnic tables at the higher end of the sloped site.
Andrews expressed his thanks to the municipality on behalf of the society. The society first had to go to council for the authority and permission to have the sculptures installed.
The wind sculptures provide some variety to the other stationary sculptures located around Chemainus.
The Double Spinner is 16 feet high and located closest to the theatre and the Twisted Oval is 11’ high and farthest from the theatre. Because of the lay of the land, they end up looking about the same height.
The larger sculpture was installed first followed by the second one Monday, April 25.
“We’re excited to add this to the collection and offer a different experience for the art community and people interested in art,” said Andrews.
The sculptures are the creations of Lyman Whitaker, an American sculptor in southern Utah who’s been a working sculptor for more than 50 years and known for his kinetic sculptures.
“We got them through an art gallery on Salt Spring Island,” explained Andrews.
Whitaker’s work is sold through the Steffich Fine Art Gallery in Ganges and it caught the society’s attention the most from numerous Google searches as best suiting the intention.
“We thought these would be something with action, kinetic that would catch viewers’ attention and draw them in,” summed up Andrews.
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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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