Westshore Town Centre and the West Shore Arts Council have partnered to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and the earth by hosting a unique art installation.
Located in the centre court of the shopping centre, five art pieces created from plastic bottles and caps illustrate iconic Canadian symbols or a significant historical event.
“It’s really interesting how all of the artists took the theme and ran with it differently,” said Carlene McDonald, Westshore Town Centre’s marketing manager. She pointed to the feathers on a bird in one of the pieces. “When you look at it, you may not think it’s made out of plastic bottles.”
But most of those little details are, with very few elements not incorporating some type of repurposed plastic.
Prior to the placing of the exhibit, collection bins were set up throughout the shopping centre where patrons could deposit their plastic bottles. Artists used those and many others they found on their own. Each artist was awarded a $200 grant from the Arts Council to help them cover their costs.
“It’s something different for us,” McDonald added. “We’re hoping our partnership with the West Shore Arts Council will continue to grow … It’s been a great partnership.”
The display runs until Sunday, May 7. The public can vote for their favourite and by doing so, will be entered into a draw for a $1,000 travel voucher. The artist with the most votes will win $1,000 cash courtesy of the shopping centre.
“The first day we put it out we had a ton of entries,” McDonald noted. And that interest is continuing to grow as more people stop to admire these unusual works of art.