It’s hard to think of a public-art initiative that has made such a difference to our town as the Oak Bay Summer Art Tour. When the District of Oak Bay hired Barb Adams to be its “arts laureate” two years ago, she decided to bring art to the attention of the public and show people what it can do for a community.
Last year, she began identifying locations where art could have a space. To that end, she placed three sculptures and three painted pianos in locations throughout Oak Bay where people would find and interact with them, and the results were hugely positive.
So many tunes were played, so many pictures posted online. And in the end, the torch-cut steel piece titled Salish Sea, a panel of First Nations design by Chris Paul, is being considered for purchase. It is located overlooking the Salish Sea next to Oak Bay Marina at Turkey Head.
This year, there is more of everything. In addition to three new pianos, an Art Walk of paintings enlivens Estevan Village and a sculpture walk adds interest to many spots in Oak Bay Village. It’s all free, the art provided by local artists and the imaginative settings created by municipal staff. Reactions on the street are very, very good.
Daciana Dao is a brilliant artist with a decorative flair, and she painted her piano at McNeill Bay in marvellous patterns reminiscent of the great Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Over at Cattle Point, Jim McFarland has painted his upright with a scene of Willows Beach, in an Impressionist style that could hang on any wall.
Despite the modesty of the honorarium, these artists have taken the job seriously. Perhaps less serious is Sherryl Hustins’ Homage to Elton John, painted with motifs from John’s songs and overlaid with rhinestones and a huge pair of glasses.
Illarion Gallant, Victoria’s most prolific producer of public art, has brought his stainless-steel sculpture Splash to an otherwise vacant lot just off Beach Drive near the Uplands. You might already know his work at the airport, Bastion Square, Fort and Foul Bay, and many other locations.
The largest work in this year’s show is David Hunwick’s heart made from castings of two whale bones. Set up prominently in its own garden at Oak Bay Avenue and Foul Bay Road, it makes a great photo op and is smartly lit at night.
Most sculptors asked to contribute a monumental work on short notice don’t have anything ready to go. Armando Barbon is an artist who is ready.
His realist statues are already found at Government House (James Douglas), the Art Gallery (Colin Graham) and on Wharf Street near Market Square (Michael Williams). For this summer event he has provided a life-size bronze of a figure skater in a challenging pose, and it is in front of Oak Bay’s municipal hall.
Nathan Scott is perhaps this region’s most popular sculptor. His realist people and animals populate benches on Sidney sidewalks, and his Homecoming is a grace note on Victoria’s harbour. For Oak Bay he has provided a cat (on a bench) and a dog (sitting nearby).
Fred Dobbs, an internationally famed sand sculptor, loaned Ghost Cat, a painted fibreglass cougar — is that a “scarecrow” for the deer of Oak Bay? Dobbs’ little bronze marmot reminds us that real marmots are on Canada’s “most endangered” list.
A surprisingly effective sculpture made of compressed chicken wire by Scott Gillies is titled Damn Builders. Wouldn’t you know it — two swimming beavers.
One of the smallest sculptures is Hunwick’s delightful hare, rather elongated in proportions and lying on his back, enjoying a good summer scratch.
Couch Gallery downtown has lent its wonderful horse named Sugar Babe, a pony-sized steed by Heather Jansch of England. The original was made of pieces of driftwood and then cast in bronze. What a cool thing, to meet Sugar Babe at the crosswalk at Hampshire and Oak Bay.
On the other side of the street, set in a pocket garden of petunias at Hampshire and Oak Bay Avenue, is a fine figurative study of a woman by Melanie Furtado. Furtado is clearly a talented young artist, with all the skills for a brilliant career. Her work is reminiscent of Linda Lindsay’s larger figurative forms.
Lindsay is perhaps our reigning figurative sculptor, and here is represented by a small panel that shows four children in an African village.
Ginny Glover has loaned a tall, thin pair of lovers who idle along the sidewalk, as so many real visitors to Oak Bay do.
One more piece from Chris Paul is suspended between an oak tree and the lawn in front of the municipal hall. This vertical column, titled Spirit of Protection, brings First Nations pole-carving up to date.
When Estevan Village was proposed as an art site, Adams approached the shop owners and placed paintings in the windows of 10 establishments. Shelley Davies has her work in the window of Crumsby’s, and has hung 24 pieces inside for the summer. She’s a very chic collage artist working with bits cut from paint colour swatches.
Other artists include Shelby Assenheimer, Anne Bowen, Brenda Estil, Ingrid Fawcett, Donna Ion, Adam Noonan, Eduard Kajdasz, Avis Rasmussen, Anita Rydygier and Irma Soltanovich.
Oak Bay Summer Art Tour — self-directed, open always, free admission. Sites can be located through Oak Bay Tourism, oakbaytourism.com
