More public art is gracing civic institutions in the Tri-Cities after two major pieces were installed last week.
The newest permanent display went up last Saturday when Squamish Nation artist Jody Broomfield unveiled his two Central Coast Salish House Posts at Port Moody city hall.
The project was funded through a $25,000 grant from Heritage Canada as part of the city's 100th anniversary celebrations.
Titled The Guardian Spirits, Broomfield carved the mother and father figures out of old growth red cedar at his home studio in West Vancouver.
On the top of each 11' tall post are mountains while the lower portion has waves - both depicting the city's scenery.
Broomfield said the city gave him about three months to complete the work.
"It was a short process," he said, but added, "They loved the idea of the designs of the mother and father as they represent the community, especially with the pieces being at city hall where people come to gather and be at the library.
"Many of them are parents themselves as well as guardians."
Last week also saw the installation of Blake Williams' Migration towers at the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Library.
The $45,000 project that was funded by the city and EmbraceBC was inspired by workshops held earlier in the year with newcomers to Coquitlam, who described what it's like to make a home in a new culture and city and depicted their journey by making collages on birdhouses.
In addition, in February, Corinne Hunt is expected to unveil a public art carving in Port Coquitlam city hall, also as part of the municipality's 100th year.
Hunt, who co-designed the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic medals, was commissioned to shape wood from a 100-year-old silver maple tree.
And she will be including the words gathered from a workshop last month to describe what the city is about. Those words will be cut into 10 panels of steel, copper and glass.
Coquitlam Coun. Neal Nicholson, chair of the city's arts and culture advisory committee, said public art "vitalize" the community in many ways. "Some define locations such as 'Meet you by the LaFarge Lake fountain.' Some quietly remind you where you are like the Maillardville clock or the salmon sculpture at Silver Springs while others make you pause and reflect like the cenotaph in Blue Mountain Park."
