July 29, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Friends & Neighbours ”

I think scrap metal is the perfect material to create a piece of art called “Friends & Neighbours” with, why?

Well, let me explain. I come from a small community in the middle of nowhere in Nova Scotia. Brooklyn Road is a community itself. Not quite Middleton or Lawrencetown or even Mt.Hanley, Brooklyn Road is a long road made up of rolling hills that takes about an hour to walk to get to town. Like scraps of metal in a pile of junk, you never know what you are going to find when you meet my neighbours. The individuals in our little community are unique and diverse but when you mix us all together you have something great.

Diversity, complexity and unique pieces coming together to fit in harmony is the basis of our Canadian “cultural mosaic” and communities made up of friends and neighbours across our country. Slocan Valley artist Rabi’a captures this perfectly with “Friends & Neighbours” another great piece of Kootenay art on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk this year!

I’ll be honest (and a little biased), I think “Friends & Neighbours” would be a great fit as part of Castlegar’s permanent display of sculptures. It is one of the larger pieces on the Walk this year and is impossible to capture in a single photo. For more on “Friends & Neighbours”click here.

To view my previous blog on Sculpture Walk’s “Joy Of Dance II” click here. 

July 28, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Joy Of Dance II”

Today’s Sculpture of the Day is D.E. McDermott’s “Joy of Dance II”. The sculpture features two magnificent dancers perfectly in-sync dancing in mid-movement without a care in the world. The dancers are en pointe, displaying perfect lines and look fully immersed in their art.  

Everything about “Joy of Dance II” is smooth and perfectly toned. The sculpture captures the essence of being lost in rhythm while being in-tune with a dancing partner.

D.E. McDermott’s “Joy of Dance II” comes to us from Virginia, another international piece to join the Castlegar Sculpture Walk stage; for more information on McDermott click here.

To see the Castlegar Sculpture Walk piece in my previous blog of the day, “Saturday’s Distractions” click here. Fittingly, it is another sculpture about a lady being fully engulfed in what she is doing…

July 25, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Saturday's Distractions”

TGIF!

Today’s sculpture of the day is a primer for tomorrow. Hopefully you will be as interested in whatever your Saturday holds as this young lady is in her book! “Saturday’s Distractions “is a beautiful bronze sculpture that comes to Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk from South Dakota!

Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby continue an important theme with “Saturday’s Distractions”, the small things that we forget about as we age. When I was this girl’s age I would go to thrift stores and pick up a book and sit down and read the entire thing on a Saturday afternoon. Now I am lucky to read a chapter of a book. That is the way life goes, eh? “Saturday’s Distractions” is a great physical reminder to pick up your skateboard, ride your bike or escape in a book this weekend (or do it all at once like this lass)!

For more on Leuning & Treeby’s “Saturday’s Distractions” click here.

To check out my previous blog on Sculpture Walk’s “Day-By-Day” follow this link. 

July 24, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Day By Day”

“Day By Day” is a sculpture crafted from modern resin compounds and can be found amongst other pieces on Columbia Avenue in front of Kootenay Market. This free flowing compact sculpture was created by Regine Neumann from Quebec. To find out more about her other work (and past works that have been part of Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk) click here.

To me this sculpture is aptly named and very fitting for this point in my blog series on Sculpture Walk. It has seemed like days have just been passing all merging together lately building up into something bigger and about to peak lately. I think this piece really captures that well, when you let things happen naturally beautiful things can happen, like “Day By Day”. Neumann really lets the material and feel of a piece dictate how the art will come together and I think that “Day By Day” is a perfect example of the freedom she allows her sculpture to enjoy. I also really like that the sculpture is not perfectly white, like even the most perfect days we enjoy as humans there always seems to be a little something more.

To see the previous sculpture in my series “Talking Crows” click here.

July 23, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Talking Crowes”

I have been reading a lot of Game of Thrones lately so today’s sculpture takes on little bit of a different meaning for me, when I hear the word “crow” I immediately am transported to the Wall these days.

With that being said I’m guessing “Talking Crows” was not created by Nelson’s Denis Kleine with Game of Thrones in mind. Regardless he has captured the essence of two crows beautifully having a chat on a tree and its branches. Crafted in bronze atop a beautiful stone base “Talking Crowes” captures one of nature’s conversation that we normally tune out. With one bird listening and the other speaking we can easily relate to the humanity exhibited in this piece.

I am so impressed that there is yet another Kootenay artist featured on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk! Denis Kleine is based out of Nelson and has actually won the Peoples’ Choice Award for Sculpture Walk in the past! For more about his big win and his art click here.

To visit my previous blog about “Talking Crows” neighbor sculpture “The Kiss” click here. 

July 18, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Sova”

Daniel Kloc's "Sova" perfectly captures the wisdom and mystical nature of the owl. "Sova" is one of the smallest sculptures on Castlegar's Sculpture Walk but should not be underestimated because of its size.


"Sova" is incredibly detailed, with every feather perfectly defined.

I learned a little Czech from the Castlegar Sculpture Walk website, "sova" is the Czech word for female owl. To learn more about "Sova" (the sculpture) and Kootenay artist Daniel Kloc click here.

To see "Whisperer" the very large sculpture featured in my blog before "Sova", click here.

Small but mighty, I had to include a close-up on this incredible sculpture by another talented artist from the Kootenays.

July 11, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Zodiac Totem”

“Zodiac Totem” is one of the most unique sculptures on this year’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk. There really is not anything quite like it. The detail and originality behind Pokey Park’s five bronze animals that make up this wild totem pole is incredible. I have been admiring this sculpture for quite some time and am absolutely enchanted by it!

Gigantic in height “Zodiac Totem” stands nine feet tall and every inch of it is rich with purpose and detail. Pokey Park is a renowned American contemporary sculptor who calls Arizona and Colorado home. For more on Pokey Park and her amazing work fusing wildlife, nature and art click here.

To see my previous blog on Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Petrified” click here. 

July 08, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Petrified”

I love “Petrified”. Inside a wire nest sit three soapstone eggs, one has hatched allowing us to see its colorful interior. “Petrified” sits beside yesterday’s Sculpture of the Day “Link”, just off Columbia Avenue in front of City Hall.

There is a magical element to these prehistoric looking eggs. I think they prove how impossible it is to judge something by its exterior. I love the vibrant interior of the hatched egg. I cannot imagine how hard it was for Spring Shine to move these gigantic eggs and manage positioning them in the nest.

Could “Petrified” be the next permanent addition to Castlegar’s Sculpture collection? I think it fitting. So many amazing things get their start and grow here. Often they leave the nest, but as one the new friends I have met here in Castlegar told me, they always find themselves back in the beautiful Kootenays.  

"Petrified" is a sculpture by another very talented BC artist, Spring Shine is based out of Argenta and you can learn more about him, "Petrified" and his other work by clicking here.

To see my previous blog on Castlegar Sculpture Walk's towering sculpture "Link" click here.

July 07, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Link”

Tonight’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk blog of the day is super short; it is too hot to type! Tomorrow’s blog might be even shorter than this one if it gets to be 36 degrees, as the forecast predicts!

“Link” is an incredibly hard sculpture to capture in a photo. I recommend you check out more about artist Mir Agol and “Link” here on Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s website to see it in it’s full glory.  Mir Agol is formerly a BC artist; he now lives and works in Washington. To see it in better lighting and find out more about Mir Agol click here.

I like this sculpture because it represents (to me) how interconnected we all are and how lucky we are when we can make a special connection with another person. “Link” stands tall amongst other sculptures outside of Castlegar’s City Hall and the RCMP Detachment on Columbia Avenue.

To see my previous Castlegar Sculpture Walk blog on “Tundra”click here.

July 06, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Tundra”

Today’s sculpture feature is another work of art that is large and in charge on Columbia Avenue. As you can see “Tundra” is a steel work that stands tall outside of Kootenay Market.

“Tundra” is a shaggy musk ox created by Maryland’s Virginia Sperry.  I am so impressed with the detail behind “Tundra”; Sperry crafted every bit of the musk ox perfectly from each shaggy bit of hair to its curled horns.  Even though the musk ox is intimidating with its horns and hooves it is also friendly looking, a gentle giant made of steel!

This morning I saw so many people on the streets taking in Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk and Canada Day packs of people were walking around with their voting cards viewing all of the impressive artwork part of the exhibit.  Do not forget you can vote until the end of September for this year’s People’s Choice Award!

For more on Virginia Sperry and “Tundra” click here.

To check out my blog on Nathan Smith’s amazing piece “Jelly” follow this link.

PS. It has been a beauty of a week here in the Kootenay Boundary; but seriously we need it cool down so this girl can get some sleep! 

July 02, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Jelly”

Today’s featured sculpture on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk is one that is definitely in contention for my People’s Choice Award. Photos really do not do “Jelly” justice. “Jelly” stands tall on Columbia Ave and catches your eye every time you pass by Kootenay Market, heading furtherer into the Downtown Castlegar.

“Jelly” is another amazing sculpture from an artist from the Kootenays. Nelson’s Nathan Smith is behind this colorful free floating beauty. For more on Nathan Smith and his previous entries and work with Castlegar Sculpture Walk click here. The beautiful jelly shell is complimented by the metalwork tentacles that extend from the gelatinous head.

I am a big fan of “Jelly”. Honestly, it has captured my attention since it was installed. It is a beautiful (gigantic) representation of one of nature’s most mystifying creatures.

If you enjoy looking at jellyfish (but not really coming close enough to touch them) I recommend checking out the Vancouver Aquarium; I was blown away by the captivating jellyfish there. I could stand around and watch them all day!

To take a look at my previous blog about Castlegar Sculpture Walk’s “Tri-Tonal” click here. 

July 01, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Tri-Tonal”

“Tri-Tonal” is one of the most noticeable sculptures on Castlegar’s Sculpture Walk and on Columbia

Avenue. It stands tall outside Castlegar’s RCMP Detachment by the bus stop and Peak Physique. This small area is home to many sculptures but “Tri-Tonal” stands out because of its incredible size.

“Tri-Tonal” exhibits the magic of the number three and pretty much speaks for itself.  Ootischenia artist Michael Misuraca is another great Kootenay sculptor on the Castlegar Sculpture Walk.  For more on Michael Misuraca click here.

To see my previous blog on “Next Generation” click here.

June 30, 2014- Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day “Next Generation”

It has been a crazy weekend! Strangely it has been my first complete weekend away from the station and the airwaves since the first weekend of May! I took a mental holiday away from my typical day-to-day activities and had a couple “me days”. I watched a whole bunch of episodes of Hell’s Kitchen and Master Chef and chilled out. I dined at the Element and saw 22 Jump Street too! If you have not seen it yet go see it, it is better than the first!

I still managed to sneak into the station both Saturday and Sunday for a couple quick things and I still ventured to the gym but other than that I relaxed and prepared for my crazy Canada Day coming up tomorrow and Storage War III coming up on Saturday!

I actually took these photos of today’s Castlegar Sculpture Walk Sculpture of the Day on Saturday, but I was a little preoccupied posting up some audio and a hour show skim (that you can check out here) and I never managed to write about today’s piece “Next Generation”.

What I love about “Next Generation” is how relatable it is; everyone can relate to “Next Generation”. Not everyone has been pregnant, but everyone has been the stressful bump in a woman’s stomach.  I love the round and curvy nature of the sculpture when looking at the sculpture from the side (as it displayed).

When you look at the sculpture head-on you get a different vibe from this lady, it is like another side of pregnancy.  Though the sculpture’s belly is still round her breasts and her backside are rounded and kind of pointy. I love that the baby bump is wider than the woman’s behind and that she is leaning forward a little bit, showing the stress creating another human being takes on a woman’s body.

“Next Generation” by artist Elusia Altman takes bonded aluminum (a very cold material) and makes it a warm, accessible and approachable piece that nearly everyone can relate to.  For more on Elusia Altman click here.

For my previous Sculpture Walk feature blog on the amazing “Sea Swimmer” click here.