Small town public art project off to big start

SCULPTOR BRAD HALL IN HIS ANNAPOLIS ROYAL STUDIO

Shelburne appears to be punching well above its weight in the art world these days. A perfect example is the impressive start to a 30-day project to raise a minumum of $4700 for the installation of the first, large, professionally-designed public art project to the Town. In its first two days, the project raised more than $2500 and a week later, there has been more than $4000 committed

"Small town. Big Art." is the name given to the project sponsored by the Shelburne Whirligig and Weathervane Festival, in partnership with the Shelburne County Arts Council. By September, on a spot overlooking the harbour entrance, a 10-metre sculpture will be installed and will welcome working ships and boats and recreational sailors into one of the most charming coastal scenes in North America

The $15,000 project has garnered the support of Arts Nova Scotia, Municipality of Shelburne and Town of Shelburne and a crowd funding campaign was launched last week to raise the $4700 needed to finish, transport and install the art piece. The "Small Town - Big Art" campaign is found on the crowd-sourcing web site Kickstarter. Donations as small as $10, with no upper limit will be accepted in the campaign, which ends June 30.

"This is a great chance to show Shelburne pride," says project committee member Willa Magee. "We're sending out notes to everyone we know asking them to help us make Shelburne the 'artiest' place in Canada." Other local arts funding projects have received donations from as far away as Japan and Europe.

"It was great how this project fit so well into the plans of the Arts Council to create more public art," says committee member and Arts Council executive director Darcy Rhyno.

A vigorous, province-wide competition determined that Annapolis Royal metal smith and sculptor Brad Hall would design and build the art work.

Hall's sculpture will rise more than 25 feet above its concrete base and, with ribboned "flags" of hammered metal, reflecting the changing winds on the harbour, while keeping a watchful eye on the comings and goings of sailors, ships and boats to and from our quiet town.

A large, metal and granite bench beside the sculpture is part of the piece, which will be installed on Town land beyond the parking area for the Shelburne Harbour Marina and Yacht Club and Osprey Arts Centre.

All monies raised beyond the $4700 will be placed in a public art fund administered by the Arts Council.

The web address to sponsor "Small town. Big art." is: http://kck.st/1BtFh8f