New public art adorns North Vancouver spaces, with striking bronze sculptures by Dam de Nogales
Plus: the District of North Van has just issued a public call for a new site-specific work with a budget of $75,000
In(essence) is a deer nearly six metres tall lifting its head to the sky created in bronze. Photo by North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission
NORTH VANCOUVER IS known for its natural gorgeousness; now it’s getting more public art to beautify outdoor spaces.
New sculptures were recently installed in Lynn Valley, while the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission and the District of North Vancouver have issued a public call for a new site-specific artwork in the up-and-coming Lynn Creek area.
First, a look at what’s new: Veronica de Nogales Leprevost and Edwin Timothy Dam form the artistic duo Dam de Nogales, splitting their time between studios in Barcelona and Highgate, Ontario. They have two new installations at Lynn Valley Town Centre.
In(essence) is a deer nearly six metres tall lifting its head to the sky. Created in bronze with a mix of polished French-brown and turquoise hues, it’s intended to be a lasting reminder of the fragile beauty of nature.
“It calls one close in its quiet, innocent presence,” Dam tells Stir. “In(essence) seems to stand on stilts against the sky. Deer sightings in the District are becoming less common, however they are no less cherished. They tend to be symbolic of quiet living, of being one with the woods. The artwork forms a natural passage-way and gateway, asking viewers to pass through, to touch, to interact.
“Despite its size, the work carries a minimal footprint,” he says. “It is non-invasive. In(essence) acts as a gateway work, a way marker, and unifier of elements, and yet it is a work aimed at quiet encounters, a pause in time, to embed memory in-those-who-frequent-the-space, to help us feel that we are more deeply interfused with nature, and to hint of the beauty of the area called home.”
Veronica de Nogales Leprevost works on In(essence), which now sits outside Lynn Valley Town Centre. Photo by Edwin Timothy Dam
In(essence) is part of Paus2Passage, a multi-piece installation of bronze wildlife sculptures, including the four bears that make up Sleuth of Bears and six wildlife high reliefs embedded into the stonework of Bosa Development’s new Lynn Valley Residences.
Sleuth of Bears aims to give a sense of family, each black bear in its own playful or relaxed pose. The sculptures are meant to take the form of sofas, chairs, and sitting nooks.
Sleuth of Bears, a new public artwork in Lynn Valley, is by Dam de Nogales. Photo by North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission
The works came about through a juried competition and were sponsored by Bosa Development and the District of North Vancouver Public Art Program.
Dam de Nogales has other pieces in the region: The Long Ascent and Swale in North Vancouver and Wait for me, Daddy in the heart of New Westminster. the latter is a war memorial based on the Vancouver Province photographer Claude P. Dettloff’s iconic 1940s photograph of the same name taken as Canadian soldiers marched off to war.
Dam de Nogales is just beginning a work destined for a new mixed-use block called the Capstan in Richmond and will be installing three polar bears at the Oregon Zoo. The installation includes The Melting Ice Bear, a large-scale polar bear melting with the ice, which pair featured at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid.
District seeks site-specific art
The North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission and the District of North Vancouver are seeking an artist or artistic team to create a site-specific public artwork that will be featured at the new Lynn Creek Community Centre currently under construction in the planned heart of up-and-coming Lynn Creek Town Centre.
The organizations are inviting expressions of interests from professional artists or artist teams from all Canada and have a budget of $75,000. For details, see the full public art call.
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