Port Moody’s new eco sculpture at Rocky Point Park will be a bear.
That’s the choice of 578 city residents who cast their ballot for the green growler as the subject for the artwork, which will be produced by artist Bruce Voyce. He also designed the Tidal Train sculpture in front of city hall as well as numerous eco sculptures in Burnaby.
The sculpture is being built with a $20,000 federal grant awarded to municipalities to commission public art pieces celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.
A heron was the second choice, with 543 votes in the special ballot that was conducted between April 18 and May 7. A salmon finished third, with 238 votes.
Eco-sculptures are living artwork. An artist designs and builds a metal frame. Then a horticulturalist determines soil requirements and a planting pattern that, when the plants have grown, will give the sculpture dimension, depth and shades of colour. The frame is filled with soil, then covered with a porous landscaping fabric to provide stability to the small plants which are inserted into small holes that have been poked into the fabric with a pointed wooden stick.
The public will get a chance to help plant the eco-sculpture at a special planting party to be held July 28. Once the plants have had a chance to grow, the finished sculpture will be unveiled in August.
