Public Art
Online Map HERE.
The Maple Ridge Public Art Steering Committee, established by the City Council, began meeting in 2010. The purpose of the Committee is to:
- recommend criteria for the commission of public art installations to Council.
- have authority for entering into agreements and contractual obligations within the limitations of approved budgets for the commission of public art installations which meet the criteria noted above.
- have authority to spend money within an annual budget approved by the Maple Ridge Council.
- submit an annual report to Maple Ridge Council by the end of May each year describing the activities of the previous year.
Public Art Installations
- A Bear's Feast at Telosky Stadium
- Action Park Poetry and Art
- Balance
- Beast Horse Clock
- Cemetery Gates
- Field of Dreams
- Kanaka Creek Interpretive Mural
- Maple Ridge Community Mosaic
- Play Ball
- Sea to Sky Eagle
- Sidewalk Poetry
- Spirit of Wood
- Tendance
- Tile Mosaics
- Trace Line
“A Bear’s Feast” (sƛ̓ənəqs kʷə speʔəθ) by Phyllis Atkins, q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ
We are pleased to share two videos for the event: the Telosky Stadium Public Art Dedication by Kwantlen First Nation and Telosky Stadium Ribbon Cutting video that captures the opening celebration with officials.
- Completed in April 2020
- Powder Coated Aluminum works on Telosky Fieldhouse; Vinyl with Laminate on Utility Kiosk Box
- Various Sizes ranging from 4’7” x 17’3” to 3’8” x 6’8”
- Maple Ridge Public Art Collection
Completed in April 2020 with a virtual opening happening October 1, the artwork by Phyllis Atkins from Kwantlen First Nation illustrates a bear’s feast and references the animals, fish and river which are important to Indigenous communities. The artist explains:
“My artwork depicts a bear’s feast, eating wild strawberries and yet to catch his salmon – both are important for his survival. Like the bears, we as Indigenous people depend on our connection to the land and water for gathering and harvesting our traditional foods to sustain our families and community throughout the year. It’s also an important cultural practice that we “set the table” and a feast is shared before all ceremonies or important work is undertaken.” - Phyllis Atkins
About the Artist
q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ’s traditional name means that “I wear the clouds like a blanket”. She is a member of the Kwantlen First Nation.
Phyllis was taught how to paint by Barbara Boldt at the Barbara Boldt Original Art Studio and studied with her for many years until she opened her own studio in 2012. In 2001, she had the wonderful opportunity to learn the art of hand engraving jewelry from the late Master carver Derek Wilson from Haisla, BC.
q̓ʷɑt̓ic̓ɑ is influenced by the deep connection to her ancestors, the community, and her family, but most of all she is inspired by her husband Drew Atkins. With her husband, she co-owns and operates k’wy’i’y’e Spring Salmon Studio & Gallery on Kwantlen land in Fort Langley.
Unveiling Date:
June 25, 2017
Location:
Schoolyard Action Park at Thomas Haney Secondary School - 23000 116 Avenue
History:
This poetry and art project at Thomas Haney Schoolyard Action Park is a community public artwork commissioned through the Maple Ridge Public Art Program. Students from Maple Ridge Youth Council and Thomas Haney Secondary developed original poems and artwork. The community public art process was supported by Ronnie Dean Harris, a Stō:lo/St'át'imc multimedia artist and Mary-Ann Liu, Vancouver sculptor and designer. The poetry and artwork cover the surfaces of the concrete planters surrounding the Action Park and are also featured on the vinyl wraps for the new garbage containers.
Poetry, art and photos thanks to the following youths:
- A. Kalman (also known as Mykmen) (wolf, owl and moon artwork was created based on original work by Adam Kreutzer and her interpretation was inspired by his work.)
- A. Plavan (flash designs are inspired by tattoo artists and her interpretation.)
- A. Waite - Never-ending Anxiety Poem (PDF)
- E. Villanueva. - My Wall Poem (PDF)
- M. Bruendl - Body Hate Poem (PDF)
- M. Porritt (Action Park Images)
- T. J. - Reminiscing Poem (PDF) (eagle and salmon artworks are inspired by Haida and other indigenous art forms including his own Dene tradition and his interpretation.)
- S. Notley - The Joy of Writer's Block Poem (PDF)
- S. Sityar - From Where We Left Off Poem (PDF)
Additional thanks to M. Clayton (also known as Forrest), lead youth initiator and connector extraordinaire and Thomas Haney Secondary School. Sandblasting of artwork designs by Studio One (Yves Trudeau).
Balance
Unveiling Date:
September 2012
Location:
Lougheed Highway & 224 Street outside Westminster Savings Credit Union
History:
Six panels of tempered, laminated glass are fixed into the branches of a tree-shaped aluminium sculpture. The sculpture resembles maple trees, particularly those after which the City was named on McIver farm.
The project cost $40,000, split equally between the Westminster Savings and the City of Maple Ridge.
"It's specific to Maple Ridge – in that Maple Ridge is very much in tune with its setting," said Cuesta, a Vancouver artist. "And trees are the most balanced structures there are," she added.
"The whole idea is that it will change and dance to the seasons – and the weather. It will cast reflections over here (the entrance to the credit union). It will turn out beautiful."
The Maple Ridge piece is of grey, non-reflective aluminium with upward facing branches that end in a point. That's partly to keep the birds away, and partly to reflect what the artists feel. "There's a bit of pain in the community," said Cuesta. The sculpture's also about progress and moving forward and more acceptance of the community, adds Baker. He hopes the sculpture, which he notes is recyclable, will become an icon of Maple Ridge. Cuesta said it's more exciting when art is seen as a part of social development, "and have an emotional response to a place. "We recognize beauty and therefore we get a sense of pride of the place that we live in." For Baker, "Art is always a mirror the people that look at it. It shows you who you are."
Artist: Bill Baker | Artist: Claudia Cuesta - Sechelt, Canada |
BiographyBill Baker is an urban designer, artist, and residential designer. He studied art history at the Sorbonne in Paris, worked as an urban designer for the City of Vancouver and a private urban design consulting firm. He is a residential designer/builder and project manager since 1978 to present. As an artist he has exhibited in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1997, at the H.Y. Luie building in Vancouver 1997, at Catriona Jeffries 1989/1990, and at the Pitt Gallery, in Vancouver, 1990. His work is in collections in Canada, Japan, England, Colombia, U.S.A., Mexico, Chile and the Art Bank of Canada. | BiographyClaudia Cuesta has an M.A. in fine arts from the Slade School of Fine Art, U.K. She has exhibited at; pitt gallery 2003, Indiana University 2001, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art 2000, Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver 1998, Performance at International Exhibition Chianti Italy 1998, Outdoor installation Rio de Janeiro biennale 1997, Museum of Modern Art Bogota Colombia 1994, Power Plant Toronto 1993, Ikon Gallery Birmingham UK 1992, South Bank Art Gallery UK 1992. She taught until 2008 at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, at the Universidad Nacional, Colombia in 1995 and at various art schools in England from 1989 to 1993. She currently mentors emerging and senior artists. Art work in various art collections, Vancouver art gallery, Museum of Modern Art, Bogota, Tovell, Canada, Bemis, U.S.A., Schlumberger, Paris. |
Beast Horse Clock
Unveiling Date:
1989
Location:
Dewdney Trunk Road, Between Maple Ridge City Hall and the RCMP Building.
Materials Used:
Aluminum and recycled parts and materials. A 'Commodore 64' was the original operating system.
History
Located outside Council Chambers on Dewdney Trunk Road the Beast has been a Maple Ridge landmark since its installation in 1989.
Ahead of his time, D.R. Brayford envisioned that the beast would represent local natural beauty and wrote a story called, “The Legend of the Beast”. The mechanical beast took two years to construct and is composed of recycled materials. The Beast contains a clock that chimes on the hour accompanied with the rearing of the Beast.
Resurrection of the Beast
Enter Ryan Crapo, Electrician and Rob Dyer, Plumber/Gas Fitter; both employees in the Parks & Facilities Department.
The Beast clock had been maintained by Raymond Saunders, horologist and owner of Landmark Clocks. However, earlier in the year Mr. Saunders had an accident and could not perform maintenance on the clock. He knew the basics on the workings of the “Beast” but admitted he was no expert on the mechanical horse. He offered to come to Maple Ridge and direct staff on how to remove the pieces of the horse to get to the hydraulics.
A scissor lift was rented to get to the horse as the platform was blocked by one of the horse’s legs. On April 22, 2009 Ryan and Rob removed pieces of the horse and inspected the hydraulics. They repaired and replaced the hydraulic hoses and reset the time as the clock was running about 3 minutes slow. With their new found knowledge on the clockworks, they set upon synchronizing the mechanical horse with the time and chimes. This was done by deciphering how the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) worked.
Why the Beast No Longer Rises
Contributed by City of Maple Ridge Staff Employee David Boag, August 20, 2012
The beast went into retirement almost two years ago, as it was considered to be a liability. At that time the welds on one of the hooves failed and it fell off. This was the second occurrence like this in a couple of years. As the Beast does not have an engineers stamp on it, it was considered too big a risk to allow it to continue to rise on the hour. There were also several hydraulic hose failures over the years, some of which spilled onto the ground below. (The fellow who built the beast had the original maintenance contract (former employee), When Don became ill and subsequently passed away, we recruited a clock maintainer to look after it, that is when it had its major overhaul and the computer controls were upgraded.
The Legend of the Beast,Copyright 1989 | |
In the valley of the Golden Ears Mountains in Maple Ridge, ‘The Beast’ ran, and frolicked from the beginning of time in perfect harmony with the environment. Mother Nature took many hours of pleasure just watching the beauty of the ‘Beast’s’ movement and the sheer joy of living the ‘Beast’ projected as it ran and jumped in play with the other animals in the valley, without a mean bone in its’ body. Mother Nature found perfect solitude in the mountains and a place to rest from her ever increasing workload throughout the world when time would allow. Sadly, it came to pass one day that man became extremely proficient in the destruction of the earth. Man’s technology in the production of toxic chemicals, nuclear waste, sewage and larger machines to cut down the forests quicker had a devastating effect on the earth. The oceans were used as dumping grounds, drift nets, miles long, were set to kill anything living without regard, and oil was spilled as if to make sure everything else was destroyed. Mother Nature worked so hard trying to repair the damage that she was just about finished. Man in his greed was ready to put his final touch to the end of nature, but he had not reckoned on the appearance of ‘The Beast’ who came thundering out of the Valley of the Golden Ears to help Mother Nature. The battle was fierce, but ‘The Beast’ was not like Mother Nature who would not hurt anyone or anything. ‘The Beast’ ran over people that were causing this destruction and gave battle in any way that was possible, and in the battle, man used chemicals, nuclear waste, fire and pollution of every sort to try and stop this thing from the Valley of the Golden Ears. When the battle was over and Mother Nature had a chance to regain her strength, she found ‘The Beast’ was just about done in with man’s pollution of nuclear waste, chemicals, acid rain, smog, sewage and smoke from what was left of the forests. There was no way she could save ‘The Beast’ and restore it to what it was when it ran free in the valleys and mountains around Maple Ridge. The damage was too great. This was a sad day. A few tears fell from Mother Nature and anger started to swell up in her until she was mad. In her anger, this was what she decreed:
Because of past performance, I am starting the Clock of Time, and how much time is left to the world depends on what is done. For now, the clock is running with the souls and spirits of those who would not heed my warning. Trapped, their pain and anguish can be seen in their eyes. ‘The Beast’ would give no mercy if it could get at them and they would be destroyed, but their destruction would not be enough punishment. Instead, they will have to look over the world every hour and see what they have done for an eternity and every hour ‘The Beast’ shall have its’ vengeance as it tramples upon those inside the clock who have done damage to the earth.” |
Cemetery Gates
Unveiling Date:
2002
Location:
Maple Ridge Cemetery - 21404 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
Materials Used:
Mild Steel, Powder Coated in Colour- Copper Vein
Funding/Contributing Partners:
Artist in Residence - donation back to the community
Artist: Colin Southwell
Biography
Colin Southwell was the first Artist in Residence (2000-2002). Prior to the creation of the gates for the Maple Ridge Cemetery, Colin had concentrated on using traditional design, including “straight lines and curly cues” in his gate creations. The wavy lines, seen in the Maple Ridge Cemetery gates were a first for Colin. “The addition of two butterflies are a tribute to family friends who lost their children at a very young age."
Field of Dreams
Unveiling Date:
May 26, 2018
Location:
Merkley Park at 22008 - 124 Avenue
Description and Background:
The development of a new artificial sports field at Merkley Park, named in honour of Olympian and community champion Karina LeBlanc, provided an opportunity to create a new public artwork on the concrete gathering space for spectators and residents.
Field of Dreams was created by Glen Andersen through a commission by the City’s Public Art Steering Committee (PASC). Andersen worked with Ms. Kira Sinow’s class of athletic leadership students at Maple Ridge Secondary on this project to develop site specific themes that were inspired by the Merkley family heritage, indigenous history of the site and Karina LeBlanc’s story. The new public artwork is a combination of mosaic and stamped designs that celebrates active living, sport and heritage.
Andersen explains, "I chose the title of Field of Dreams as a metaphor that applies on many levels to Karina’s story and all the other aspiring athletes who use the field, but also the dreams of previous users in the past and to multiple species. A follow-the-bouncing-ball motif is the overall visual template, with footprints following alongside and coming in along the edges, almost as if the turkeys, bears, goats and barefoot humans have stepped in wet cement, but also suggesting the multiple users of the land over time and eons, culminating in the cleats of an contemporary athlete, Karina LeBlanc. The turkey footprints are a reference to Don Merkley and his family’s farming practices at this site previously."
Artist: Glen Andersen
Glen Andersen is a Vancouver-based sculptor and mosaic artist. After studying film at Simon Fraser University, he shifted directions and committed himself to making what he describes as “accessible, human-scale, handmade pedestrian-friendly” public art.
He is best known for his mosaics, which he has created on his own and in collaboration with community groups. Andersen’s art may be seen in parks, plazas, school grounds, residential neighbourhoods and private gardens throughout the northwest.
Kanaka Creek Interpretive Mural
Check out more information on the Kanaka Creek Interpretive Mural project.
Maple Ridge Community Mosaic
By Rebecca Bayer and David Gregory
Completed January 2020
Hand painted ceramic tiles made from recycled glass powder mixed with clay.
Located in the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre at the Lobby (8’ x 1’7”), Gathering Space (8’ x 32’24”) and Pool Deck (8’ x 20’5”)
Maple Ridge Public Art Collection
Completed in January 2020, the “Maple Ridge Community Mosaic” celebrates the Leisure Centre as an important social hub. This work was commissioned by the City of Maple Ridge through its Public Art Program and Steering Committee. Artists Rebecca Bayer and David Gregory worked with students and community members at artist-run workshops and combined hundreds of patterns to create a vibrant representation of the interconnections between people and place in our community. This unique artwork signifies community, togetherness and the interdependence of parts within a whole.
The “Maple Ridge Community Mosaic” was designed for three locations spanning 410 square feet within the Leisure Centre. Overall, more than 14,000 custom-made triangular ceramic tiles using recycled glass powder mixed with clay were used to create the mosaics. Even the colours are unique to Maple Ridge – a palette of twelve custom colours was developed based on photographs of our community’s landscape submitted by residents.
In cultures all around the world, patterned tiles and geometric patterns are used in public spaces to indicate use, provide way-finding, add beauty, encourage social interaction and inspire thoughts. The “Maple Ridge Community Mosaic” is arranged within a grid of equilateral triangles. Symbolically, triangles represent the strongest natural shape. The Mosaic is a colourful and complex artwork that creates a unique landmark that can be experienced in a variety of ways and intuitively locates visitors within the building.
About the Artists
Spacemakeplace Design is the art and design studio of Rebecca Bayer and David Gregory. Their site-specific work is inspired by elemental and organic themes that embrace community and advocate inclusiveness. Enhancing the tactile and emotional relationship the public has with the urban environment is a recurring theme in their work.
Rebecca studied Architecture at the University of British Columbia and Fine Art at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. David studied Fine Art at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Rebecca currently teaches art, design, and interdisciplinary studies at ECUAD.
Play Ball
Unveiling Date:
July 30, 2016
Location:
Hammond Stadium Park - 20601 Westfield Ave
History:
Consists of six monumental scale sculpted mosaic baseballs cast in concrete that could also serve as seating for the games and serves to mark the Park’s entrances. A vinyl wrap of the control box next to the baseball stack was also completed and tells the story of baseball in Hammond.
The community, users and partners attended a Tailgate Party in conjunction with the Ridge Meadows Minor Baseball game to share stories of Hammond Park and helped to determine what significant events, people or facts should be commemorated in the public artwork which will also included a vinyl wrap.
Artists: Mary-Ann Liu and Paul Slipper (Check Out The Facebook Photos!)
Sea to Sky Eagle
Unveiling Date
March 18, 2011
Location
Courtyard between the entrance of Maple Ridge City Hall and the Ridge Meadows RCMP Detachment - 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC
Materials Used
Constructed of fiberglass. The Eagle is roughly 7 ½ ft. tall and comes on a stand. The Eagle weighs approximately 120 lbs. The metal base weight is approximately 50 lbs.
Funding/Contributing Partners
Funding for the sculpture came equally from the Public Art Steering Committee and private donations.
- Maple Ridge Lions Club
- Haney Builders' Supply
- Big Valley Heating & Sheet Metal Ltd.
- Lougheed Tire Sales & Service Ltd.
- Fox's Reach Pub and Grill
- The Witch of Endor Pub
- Lordco Auto Parts
- T& T auto Parts Ltd.
- Carline Muffler
- PSVC Chartered Accountants
- Willco Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
- Coldwell Banker Tri- Tell Realty
Stories Associated
Every winter from November to February literally thousands of Bald Eagles arrive to migrate on the West Coast of British Columbia to feast on Salmon on the banks of our rivers and tributaries. The Bald Eagle makes a statement of strength, striking appearance, grace and personifies freedom.
With this in mind the Bald Eagle migrated onto the streets of Vancouver, Vancouver Island and beyond to complete the trilogy of public arts projects by the BC Lions Society. The first being the Orca coming out of the Pacific Ocean, then the Spirit Bear coming out of the forests of Northern BC, followed by the Bald Eagle soaring through the skies of the West Coast from April 2009 to April 2010 in support of the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Services and the Canucks for Kids Fund.
Sidewalk Poetry
In celebration of Maple Ridge's 140th Anniversary in 2015, the City through the Public Art Steering Committee launched this community public art project that challenged current and past residents to write original "tweetable" poems, elegant rhymes, playful limericks, bar napkin free verse or classroom haikus, on the theme: what makes this City special to you? There's a poet in every one of us! It highlights the community's creative talents in public spaces and shares stories of Maple Ridge's past, present and future through poetry. We were inspired by the City of St. Paul, MI and City of Cambridge, MA.
Each poem was restricted to 140 characters including spaces and punctuation, and the winning submissions were displayed on local sidewalks in the Town Centre using a vinyl over laminate material and later stamped permanently into concrete sidewalks.
Special thanks to representatives from the Public Art Steering Committee, Holy Wow Poets, Golden Ears Writers and Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness in assisting with the placement and selection process.
We look forward to the evolution in the sidewalk poetry program!
2018 Installation
The call is now open for residents to submit your sidewalk poem.
Deadline: August 15 at 9:00 AM PST
Guidelines
- Original poem in any style but limited to 140 characters including spaces and punctuation and up to 5 lines.
- No more than 2 submissions per person.
- Open to residents past and present.
- There are three age categories: kids (under 12 years old), youth (12-19 years old) and adults (19+ years old). Please note in your submission.
- Provide full contact information in the waiver with your entry. Download the waiver.
- Four new poems will be selected to be stamped on Lougheed Hwy (between 224th and 226th St) as part of the roadway improvements in the fall.
Theme
"What makes Maple Ridge special to you?"
A jury, consisting of community members with expertise, will make the selection. If time permitted, we may include a people's choice in the selection.
2017 Installation
For Canada's 150th anniversary, poems by youth were selected for the Thomas Haney Action Park.
2015 Installation
Congratulations to the ten residents chosen for the first Sidewalk Poetry installation in 2015. Thanks to all for voting "like" on Facebook for the top two poems (Emily Tsui and Leanne Koehn) which are permanently stamped in the sidewalk on Selkirk Street (behind the Mall).
Spirit of Wood
Unveiling Date
February 16, 2008
Location
Maple Ridge Library, 130 - 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC
Materials Used
Basswood
Funding/Contributing Partners
- Rumer Horwoods
- Local Artists
- Master Carvers
- Community Residents
- Katzie First Nation
- School District No. 42 Aboriginal Education Department
Stories Associated
Maple Ridge joined more than 100 communities to celebrate Spirit of BC Week 2008 by hosting numerous events. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Spirit of Wood Festival, hosted by the Mountain Festival Society, was a community celebration with a variety of interactive activities focused on the wonder of wood. A highlight of the week was the unveiling of the Community Carving Project, created by 874 local citizens and installed in the library.
The carving depicts the rich and diverse cultural, history and natural surroundings of Maple Ridge.
Tendance
Unveiling Date
October 12, 2010
Location
Memorial Peace Park - 11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC
Materials Used
Bronze and Stainless Steel
Funding/Contributing Partners
The project was commissioned by the City of Maple Ridge and is part of the larger inter-municipal Necklace project in which Maple Ridge and nine other municipalities in the Lower Mainland undertook the challenge to create their own metaphorical 'jewel' at strategically selected sites in the Lower Mainland.
Stories Associated
Tendance, features large maple seeds cast in bronze which are strung along swirling stainless steel "curves" representing their spiral paths from tree to earth. Arising from a concrete base to a height of 20 feet, and illuminated by lighting integrated into the pedestal, the sculpture will be clearly visible day and night from all points around the Memorial Peace Park.
The artist team, Michael Vandermeer and Cheryl Hamilton, explain that the inspiration for the project arose not only from the symbolic importance of the maple seed to the community but from impressions of the City itself:
"We saw Maple Ridge as rich in spirit, and it has an air of potential. … It struck us that many of the people we met seemed empowered by a clear sense of opportunity…we learned that the city is actively growing, for example, that there is a collaboration of civic and commercial interests to support a new public art program, new street furniture, a regional fair, and a Farmers Market."
The Mayor of Maple Ridge is quoted as saying, "Public art takes a variety of shapes and forms and it makes our community interesting. It touches our lives in a variety of ways whether it's on our way to work, while out for a stroll at lunch time or just taking a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood. A well-planned public art project ensures that the statement the work makes is in keeping with its surroundings, whether this be on a busy downtown street corner, in a green space or in an area that combines both rural and urban elements such as is the case with the piece destined for Memorial Peace Park. Another great addition to the heart of our community."
The project was commissioned by the City of Maple Ridge and is part of the larger inter-municipal Necklace Project in which Maple Ridge and nine other municipalities in the Lower Mainland undertook the challenge to create their own metaphorical 'jewel' at strategically selected sites in the Lower Mainland.
Tile Mosaics
Unveiling Date
2010 & 2011
Locations
Logging Industry - Abernethy & Lougheed Co. Mosaic |
11997 224 Street, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Bruce Walther 2011 |
Berryland Canning Mosaic |
11968 224 Street, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Ann Wilson 2011 |
Remembrance – War Mosaic |
11887 224 Street, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Ann Wilson 2010 |
Thomas Haney Mosaic |
11841 224 Street, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Bruce Walther 2010 |
Youth & Recreation Mosaic |
22348 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Bruce Walther |
Service - For Home and Country |
22347 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge, BC |
Artist: Ann Wilson |
Materials Used
High fired frost resistant porcelain or ceramic tiles. These tiles are from Italy, Spain, and Portugal
Funding/Contributing Partners
City of Maple Ridge
Stories Associated
As part of the City of Maple Ridge's Downtown Enhancement Project and to promote awareness of the rich history of the Maple Ridge, City staff worked closely with Maple Ridge Museum & Archives and the artist, Bruce Walther, to achieve the details in each mosaic.
Museum curator Val Patenaude helped identify the topics for the initial installations. “When we considered our options for these artworks it became clear that we needed to distill the entire community's human history to a few main themes. I hope that when people see the mosaics, they'll want more so that we can explore other elements of our community heritage."
Thomas Haney, a pioneer who gave his name to the core of our community and started the street system that we still have. The Haney family made major contributions at all levels to the development of the community. Features of this tile mosaic include Thomas Haney in the foreground and Haney House in the background, the old Port Haney waterfront with a paddle wheeler and historic buildings (Billy Miner Pub) that are still there.
Maple Ridge's spectacular scenery is well represented in the mosaics. The maple leaves in the four corners of each mosaic represent the trees that gave the community its name. The wavy gold line around the edge of each mosaic represents the Golden Ears Mountains; the green trees represent our magnificent green spaces and forests, while the two-tone blue rope represents the mighty Fraser River.
This project is on the unceded and traditional territory of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations.
The 224th street pedestrian underpass runs beneath the Haney Bypass and is a key feature connecting Maple Ridge City Centre to the Haney Wharf. The underpass is walking distance from both the urban core of the City, and the banks of the Fraser River, upon which the wharf is situated.
- Completed in July 2023
- Exterior latex paint, epoxy resin coating
- Approx. 580 square feet
- Maple Ridge Public Art Collection
Completed in July 2023 produced during the Haney Artist in Residence with the City and in partnership with British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the artwork by Aaron S. Moran and Taryn Hubbard was a collaborative effort to help bring more vibrancy to the neighbourhood. The mural design was developed through artist facilitated community engagement sessions that encouraged participants to respond to the environment around the tunnel. At each session, archival photographs, as well as natural materials and objects gathered from around the underpass were available for use by participants. The sessions introduced techniques such as shadow and object tracing, silhouette cutting, and image simplification through collage. The two artists explain:
The mural] has a very contemporary and hard-edge look, but it’s actually completely formed by what people were creating during the engagement sessions,” said Moran. “The colours for each face of the mural, reflect heavily on the experiences of seeing birds and hearing water and having those types of natural experiences. Whereas the colours when you’re walking toward the city – maybe you’re getting off the West Coast Express, or you’re listening to some music at the Wharf– are a little bit more of the vibrant, more urban colours of that experience,” said Hubbard. “When you look at the mural, you’ll notice white illustrations over top of the colourful shapes. These were inspired by the ideas that came through during the engagement sessions. When we were painting the mural, we had a lot of conversations with residents in the area, who were excited to see this mural take shape, and we were hoping that that same excitement will extend further out into Maple Ridge and that people will come out to see the mural for themselves.
About the Artists
Aaron S. Moran is an award-winning artist and operator of the press Poor Quality. His sculptures, site-specific works and photographs have been exhibited locally, and internationally. In 2011, he held a year-long artist residency at the Ranger Station Gallery in Harrison Hot Springs where he programmed workshops for primary and secondary students, seniors, as well as maintained the attached community art gallery. He has taught at the University of the Fraser Valley and the University of Windsor in the areas of sculpture, printmaking, and interdisciplinary media. More information on his
Taryn Hubbard is a writer whose first full-length poetry collection Desire Path—which focuses on the poetry of place of Surrey, BC—is available now by Talonbooks. She has led creative writing workshops with teachers and students at Surrey Schools and co-founded the South of Fraser Inter-Arts Collective, where she managed community arts programs, including budgets, grants and volunteers.
Documents
Public Art
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Yvonne Chui
Recreation Manager Arts & Community Connections
Email Yvonne Chui
Telephone: 604-467-7415