The art piece which was commissioned as a legacy to the Olympic Torch Run passing through Yorkton earlier this year has been installed on the southeast corner of the curling rink at the Gallagher Centre.
The piece, entitled 'Fire and Ice' was funded by dollars provided by the province explained Darcy McLeod, Director of Community Development, Parks & Recreation, with the City of Yorkton. The cost to artist, including last week's installation was $27,000.
Sandra MacColl, with the Renaissance Yorkton Committee said the installation has been a long time in coming completing a process shared by the local committee and artist Grant McLaughlin.
MacColl said the combined artistic vision would not have had a chance to emerge had the province not wanted some legacy aspect to result from the money it out into the Torch Relay celebrations in Saskatchewan communities. With the money available, a local vision coalesced.
"It was due to the vision of the Torch Relay Task Force," she said, adding when they looked at creating a legacy they said "let's make it an artistic legacy."
With ideas in-hand, a call to Saskatchewan artists went out, and McLaughlin was selected. The artist was already familiar in the city having created the '20th Century Salute' piece on the west wall of the Liquor Board Store.
"Grant's a great guy to work with," said MacColl, adding he deals with the challenges a project throws his way well. " He'll do it. He just doesn't show stress or frustration."
MacColl said from the outset they wanted the piece "to reflect the spirit of winter sports," adding she feels Fire and Ice does that well.
Yorkton Mayor James Wilson said the Winter Olympics, Torch Relay, and art piece all send an important message, especially to youth, that they "can be whatever they want to be even an Olympian."
In his artist statement McLaughlin outlined his vision in the piece.
"The sculptural piece that will be created to celebrate the spirit of winter sports and the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will be an assemblage of people involved in the lively action of winter sporting pursuits," he wrote.
"While a goal of the Olympics is for one to strive to do one's best ,many people enjoy winter sports for the activity itself. As the development and popularity of these winter sports continue to change after time,I have chosen to depict some of the more popular ones today.
"I have portrayed figures who could be thought to represent people of different ages and abilities,but who share a common joy in the physical participation of their chosen winter activity.
"I want to engage kids, as that's where most sports activities start. Kids need to be encouraged to be physically active.Kids (and adults) need to do things that are fun!"
McLaughlin said last Wednesday, in the middle of the installation, that the finished piece was "very close" to his original vision for Fire and Ice. "The sculpture is pretty well exactly as I envisioned."
There were challenges with the piece, said the artist, citing working in three-dimensions on a piece which is fitted to a building corner. He said that really just added to the interest in doing the piece.
"Basically I like things that throw me a new challenge," said McLaughlin.
