River for Respect

Photo: Contributed

(L to R) Coun.Juliette Cunningham, Coun. Catherine Lord, North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold, Social Planning Council exec-dir. Annette Sharkey, DVA's Dina Mostat, artist Gabrielle Strong mark the spot for art.

The location for a new downtown art piece has been revealed.

A winding mosaic river will be inlayed into the sidewalk on the east side of 30th Street across from the Greyhound bus depot.

Work on the piece is starting this summer as part of the North Okanagan RespectFEST.

The art work signifying the cycle of water is the design of Gabrielle Strong, who is Metis and a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

The piece will incorporate a range of materials, including mosaic segments, etched line-work and various shades of blue and green acid-staining.

Over the coming weeks, Strong will be working with various groups, youth and the public to create the participatory public art piece.

Stong said she hopes the process and the final art will inspire respect within the community and a shared commitment to the environment regardless of culture, race or background.

The public art piece has been funded by the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA), the City of Vernon and the Government of Canada as a legacy project of North Okanagan RespectFEST which marks Canada’s 150th anniversary.

The art will be featured during RespectFEST 2017, the week-long festival running Sept. 18-24 throughout Vernon.