2009 News and Information
Richmond Partners on 2010 Aboriginal Art Program
25 June 2009A contemporary structure of glass and cedar, over six metres tall (21 ft) and carved with First Nations’ imagery, is one of the spectacular works of art by Canadian aboriginal artists already selected to grace the Richmond Olympic Oval site through the Vancouver 2010 Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program.
More than 90 First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists from every province and territory in Canada are creating 140 individual pieces of original artwork through the $2 million program, recently announced by VANOC in partnership with the Four Host First Nations. The artwork will be mounted at various 2010 venues in the province. At least 40 works will be permanently installed, including four in Richmond, upon approval by Council.
The City of Richmond is partnering with VANOC on several components of the Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program, including a welcome work, whereby a First Nations artist will create a traditional welcoming artwork for the River Road entrance to the Richmond Olympic Oval Precinct. The City is also contributing to the youth mentorship program, which features an aboriginal artist mentoring a cross-cultural group of Richmond youth in developing artwork that will be integrated into the site.
Council readily endorsed the glass structure concept produced by the Nuu-chah-nulth Art Association, who is from the west coast of Vancouver Island. They also approved the concept of a custom tapestry by the Pangnirtung Tapestry Studios, which represents the four Inuit regions of Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Nunavut and Inuvialuit. Approximately 3.6 m by 2.1 m (12 ft by 7 ft), the tapestry will be a pictorial story of traditional and new sport in Inuit life and hang inside the Oval.
The City will contribute $45,000 to the welcome work and $55,000 to the youth mentorship program, both from the Oval Precinct Public Art Capital Budget. VANOC is funding the full project budget of $125,000 for the contemporary feature artwork and $65,000 for the tapestry, as well as contributing $10,000 to the welcome work.
The Oval precinct public art program represents the largest investment in public art in the City’s history. The Venues’ Aboriginal Art Program will complement the precinct’s existing public art: Susan A. Point’s sculptural buttress runnels, Janet Echelman’s Water Sky Garden and Buster Simpson’s Ice Blade.
The City of Richmond is a Venue City of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, hosting the speedskating events at the Richmond Olympic Oval, as well as home of the O Zone, one of the Games’ four official celebration sites. Composed of 17 islands in the mouth of the Fraser River, Richmond has been named the healthiest city in Canada, and one of the most liveable cities in the world.
