Saanich’s newest piece of public art will be unveiled on the Craigflower Bridge on Wednesday.
The opening starts at 2 p.m. at the neighbouring Craigflower Schoolhouse, 2755 Admirals Rd.
It is the official launch of Vancouver artist Blake Williams’ project, which followed the Saanich theme of “Bridging Perspectives.”
“It’s a steel frame and structure, people will interpret the [piece] in different ways,” said Williams, who is known to work with kiln-fired ceramic porcelain and glass surfaces. “The idea is it’s a curving form that I thought was a metaphor for the curving of the Gorge as it moves inland from the Inner Harbour.”
The steel and concrete boasts a glass form approximately 10 feet long, glazed and fused with imagery, colour and text. The curving, serpentine form mimics the curving flow of the Gorge Waterway while the imagery is influenced by the history of the site and the Garry oak trees that are found in the vicinity of the bridge.
It will sit on the north end of Craigflower Bridge.
The project is a result of support and encouragement from the Gorge Tillicum Community Association and was funded by the District of Saanich in connection with the reconstruction of the bridge.
A request for proposals was released in January 2015 and a five-member jury, including a representative from the local Gorge Tillicum Community Association, chose the winning work of art from the submissions of 20 different artists.