By Staff
March 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has commissioned an artist to create a sculpture for the new Skyway Community Centre.
A citizen jury shortlisted three artists to submit design proposals.
Rendering of the Skyway Community Centre
Skyway Community Centre Public Art Projects Goals:
- Create a contemporary sculpture that is part of the new community centre.
- Act as a beacon to help guide visitors towards the main entrance of the building.
- Reflect on the theme of sustainability through the artwork materials and/or artwork subject matter.
- Complement the design of the community centre.
Xiaojing Yan with some of her work
The City has selected Xiaojing Yan’s proposal entitled ‘Ephemeral Reverie’ for the Skyway Community Centre Public Art Project.
Over 500 residents submitted comments which were used to help inform the jury’s final selection.
Artist Statement, Xiaojing Yan
Crafted from different hues of coloured concrete.
“In the heart of Skyway Community Centre, ‘Ephemeral Reverie’ is an art installation that not only whispers of environmental urgency but also binds the community’s heartbeat. Crafted from different hues of coloured concrete, it paints a melancholic picture of melting icebergs, echoing the climate’s distress call.
Each shade woven into the concrete mirrors diverse facets of nature, aligning seamlessly with the community centre’s redesigned values of sustainability. This multicolored beacon not only ignites discussions on our planet’s environmental challenges but also emphasizes the shared responsibility of the community to act.
Guiding souls towards the Skyway Community Centre, this artwork stands tall, acting as a beacon to help guide visitors toward the main entrance. Furthermore, it acts as a testament to the community’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. Its vivid design complements the centre’s fresh architecture, serving as both a reminder of our bond with nature and our duty to protect it.
Crafted with an eco-friendly and recyclable type of concrete, ‘Ephemeral Reverie’ narratives the community centre’s ethos of reducing carbon footprints and embracing green initiatives. As its story unfolds, the installation can be reborn, its materials repurposed, emphasizing the continuous cycle of community renewal and rejuvenation.
Beyond its aesthetic charm, ‘Ephemeral Reverie’ stands as a community emblem, echoing the values of the reimagined Skyway Community Centre. It serves as a poignant reminder of our collective duty to tread lightly on Earth, fostering a legacy of care, unity, and sustainable vision.”
The artwork will be installed in Fall 2024.
I’m watching this building go up, and it is massive! It is much too close to the road. The park that was situated north of the former arena looks like it will be gobbled up with a parking lot. So much for preserving green space.
I hope the reality eventually matches the renderings for the design because so far, this facility is more overpowering concrete than aesthetic splendour.