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Public art installed this week

Sculpture includes tiles hand-painted by community members

Installation began this week on a RMOW-commissioned public art piece featuring over 200 tiles handpainted by community members.

The sculpture has been designated for the Valley Trail trailhead at the bottom of Lorimer Road.

The municipality commissioned the work to Whistler artist Penny Martyn in 2004.

The sculpture depicts the life cycle of the Kokanee salmon and features two concrete pillars clad with the tiles painted by community members during an open workshop in January. The tiles were then fired and prepared for cladding by Martyn, a ceramic artist based in Emerald Estates.

The work is the first piece of public art commissioned by the municipality for installation outside of Whistler Village. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on May 13.

The municipality has also commissioned a basalt sculpture of a bear from renowned Haida carver Lawrence Knowles for installation on the Valley Trail. Knowles is currently undertaking the blocking process at the municipal works yard, and will continue working from a public site in Rebagliati Park throughout the coming months.