Pilot art project to brighten Hintonburg streets
Posted Feb 5, 2010 By Rosalyn Stevens
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Tweet ThisEMC News The streets of Hintonburg are about to get a little brighter with the launch of a new art project in the west end neighbourhood.
In partnership with Bell Canada, the Wellington West Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the office of Kitchissippi ward Coun. Christine Leadman, the Hintonburg Community Association (HCA) is looking for local artists to lend a hand.
The project would see six Bell Canada utility boxes painted with special anti-graffiti paint provided by the utility company. A $300 honorarium will be provided for each painted box.
Coun. Leadman said planning for the project has been ongoing for about a year, as part of the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI). While thinking of ways to improve the community, this form of public art was thought of as a solution to some problems in the area.
"One of the things we identified was the high level of graffiti," Coun. Leadman said.
A similar project took place in Toronto, she said, and had huge success. In that city, several utility companies were eager to sign on and participate. In Ottawa, it wasn't as easy to find participants, but Coun. Leadman said Bell Canada drew on experience from Toronto and offered spaces for the program.
With Coun. Leadman's assistance to set up the allowances, and the donation of space from Bell, the community association established a committee to work through details.
James Valcke, co-chair of the HCA's arts committee, said he's very eager to see what local artists will come up with. The deadline for submitting work is Feb. 14 and Mr. Valcke said committee members would be meeting later that week to decide on winning submissions.
"It's a pretty quick turn around," he said.
"Once the snow melts, we're hoping to get into it right away."
There are no specific guidelines for submissions, he said, though the committee might make suggestions to further develop themes they like. But the idea is to have artists submit as much as they can, with varying themes and ideas to represent the community.
Mr. Valcke said programs like this show residents the true importance of art in their community, and he said he hopes the spread of public art will continue in future years.
"A program like this shows that public art and art in the community is a priority," he noted.
Coun. Leadman said she is looking forward to seeing what the community comes up with, adding that this work will brighten the newly reconstructed Wellington St. W.
"I think it's going to be a good addition to the streetscape that was just done," she said.
For more information on the project, please see www.hintonburg.com. Submissions can be sent electronically to hca.arts@gmail.com.
