There’s a new piece of public art on display in downtown Rossland.
The Rossland Council for Arts and Culture and Tourism Rossland have leased a new sculpture, which will be on display for one year at the corner of Columbia and Spokane.
“Gotta Practice First” is a bronze sculpture of a young girl playing violin, created by artistic duo Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby.
“Our young tomboy is struggling with her violin practice,” the artists say, describing the work. “She is none too good, but mom won’t let her out of the house till she finishes. Her faithful basset hound hangs in there, though he covers his sensitive ears.”
The duo captures her attire – and emotions – perfectly. The injustice and relative agony of the practice session is evident. It’s a whimsical and emotive piece that will delight viewers. It brings back a flood of childhood memories for anyone ever in the same circumstance. Having to do exactly what you don’t want to is agonizing…
This sculpture is leased through Castlegar SculptureWalk and was installed on Wednesday with the assistance from the City of Rossland. 2018 marks the tenth year of RCAC’s successful Public Art Program.
“The Castlegar Sculpturewalk has been an enormous inspiration for us and other communities and businesses in the Columbia Basin,” says RCAC’s Public Art committee head Renate Fleming. Currently, the communities of Creston, Nelson and Rossland are partnering with Castlegar Sculpturewalk and are taking advantage of the opportunities to lease or purchase sculptures from the Sculpturewalk exhibits to increase the vibrancy of their downtowns.
This year, again in partnership with Tourism Rossland the lease on the “V-Formation” by Nelson artist Nathan Smith in front of Mountain Nugget Chocolate shop could also be renewed. This interactive art piece has been a favourite with the younger generation of art lovers.
RCAC will also be welcoming another sculpture donated to the community by local sculpture David Sidley in memory of his son River. This sculpture will be installed later this spring close to the YAN space in the Emcon lot. “We are stoked to be able to exhibit David’s sculpture, which is our first sculpture by a resident of Rossland” , says Fleming.
For next year, the busy Public Art Committee is planning to keep up the yearly leases and is working on the commission of a new sculpture for the exterior of the newly renovated Miners Hall.
”We are very excited about bringing all this public art work to our community”, says Fleming, “it is here for everyone to enjoy, young and old, residents and visitors alike.”