PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION, “THE WAVE”, TAKES UP RESIDENCE IN SUNSET PARK

Port Hawkesbury’s latest public art installation was designed and created by well known Cape Breton artist Gordon Kennedy. With different shapes, forms and colours, Gordon expresses ideas and emotions.

His intention is to touch and excite the imagination. Gordon’s latest piece “The Wave” which has been installed in the Sunset Park, captures the beauty that our surrounding natural setting provides each day. Gordon’s idea is the most important part of the creative process, rather than the result. Gordon attended Vancouver Art School, now called the Emily Carr College of Art, in the early 70’s, where he studied painting and metal sculpture. After graduating, he traveled to Europe and then returned to Vancouver and set up a painting studio. In 1977, he moved to Toronto to experience the art scene. From there, he found his way to Cape Breton Island in the early 80’s and has been living and working here ever since.

In the 90s, he responded to the ever-present need to change, and he began to experiment again with three-dimensional forms which has led to his most recent works which include sculptures of metal, fibreglass and cement. There have been many shifts in his work over the years, but the basic underlying drive remains the same: that is to touch and to excite the imagination.

Gordon has noted that, “When thinking about this project and Port Hawkesbury’s rich history, it provided many interesting options to work with. Ship building, fishing and lumber are a few. They all had a connection with the ocean. The ocean being a major influence, I worked with the rhythms and shapes I associate with it to create this sculpture. The location of the sculpture in the new Sunset Park with the water behind and evening colours made the choice of stainless steel a natural. Its reflective qualities will pick up the subtle changes of colour throughout the day and catch the sunset in the evening. Even at night there will be interesting reflections. Thank you to the Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Waterfront Advisory Committee, Joe Jenaga Engineering for donating the pedestal design, and C.W. Bennett Cement for construction of the pedestal, Target Hydraulics the art piece fabricator, and our funding partners The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia. Work will continue on Sunset Park in the spring, with the addition of plantings, walkways, sorting areas, picnic shelters and seating.

Mayor Chisholm-Beaton noted “I’d like to congratulate our hard-working Port Hawkesbury Waterfront Development Advisory Committee made up of community and business citizens, council members and town staff. This artwork is demonstrative of the ongoing commitment, development and creativity being invested at one of our town’s strongest assets – our waterfront. Our council has made waterfront development one of our key priorities and we love hearing the positive feedback from both people living in and visiting our town.”