Kent Park - Public Art Project
The Town of Huntsville recognizes the important role public art plays in placemaking, creating vibrant, engaging spaces that spark dialogue and delight, attract visitors and residents, create a sense of civic pride, and increase opportunities for legitimate loitering to enhance crime prevention.
Together with members of the Muskoka Arts and Crafts, the Downtown Huntsville BIA, Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and Huntsville Art Society, the Town of Huntsville invited qualified visual artists with a connection and/or understanding of the area's local history and culture to submit to the Kent Park Public Art Project Call to Artists for a permanent outdoor work or works of art at Kent Park.
At its meeting held October 30, 2024, General Committee recommended that the Town enter into agreement with sculptor, Bryan Faubert, to carry out the design, fabrication and installation of a permanent work of art in Kent Park. The recommendation is subject to ratification at Council's Regular meeting November 28, 2024.
The Working Group applauds the efforts of each artist that submitted to the Call and recognizes that it can be difficult for artists to subject their ideas and talent to scrutiny. Members would like to thank the artists for their creativity and effort and encourage them to participate in future Calls for public art through the Town of Huntsville.
About the Artist
Faubert is a metal sculptor with a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. He has been exhibiting in solo and group exhibitions since 2004 and has worked on a number of public art projects since 2016. He has experience as a teaching assistant, workshop instructor, lecturer and artist-in-residence. His medium of choice when working in the public sphere is painted, powder coated, nickel-plated steel and/or Corten steel for its durability and resistance to the elements. His processes are varied, ranging from welded fabrication techniques to "flame drawing", to create works that cast a playful network of shadows that can be appreciated both with the passing of the sun overhead during the day, and by way of lighted elements during the nighttime.
Preliminary Design
Faubert's preliminary design concept
Faubert's intention is to strategically place a number of 2 or 3D sculptures within the park, some flora and fauna, some animals, all native to Muskoka, adding to the site's natural beauty, and merging the works into the surroundings, thus transforming the space into a sculpture garden. The formal elements and their layout in Kent Park will be decided in consultation with the Kent Park Public Art Working Group.
Noted in the Artist's submission:
"As these proposed artworks will be composed primarily of contour and gestural line, the ability to see through the sculptures, framing their surroundings and viewers inside of their ornate compositions. This will coalesce the park, the community, the Muskoka surroundings, and artwork, into one. Furthermore, the shadows that each sculptural element will create, with the passing of the sun overhead, will create dynamism as the composition of this shadowy network slowly changes the space as the sun moves across the sky each day.
For more information on artist Bryan Faubert, pre-visualizations of his proposed artwork for Kent Park, and photos of examples of his previous works, please see the report presented to Committee October 30, 2024.