Have you taken a stroll down Corydon Ave. lately? Then maybe you have seen the new sculptures, hand-painted by local artists, that were unveiled on June 8. It’s part of a new public art installation affectionately called The Colours of Corydon by the Corydon Avenue BIZ.
Eight painted sculptures on Corydon Avenue.
I had an opportunity to speak with Criag Kitching, President of the Corydon Avenue BIZ, about the inspiration behind these art pieces. He said “the colours reflect the diverse ethnicity of the community as each piece represents one of eight countries: Argentina, France, Greece, Japan, Italy, Scotland, Spain, and Ukraine.”
The initiative follows the storyline of any great feat: struggle, sorrow, persistence and, in the end, success. On a recent phone interview, Katia Von Stackelberg, Executive Director of Corydon Avenue BIZ, explained that The Colours of Corydon was initiated in 2013 by the late Ernie Walter as a long-term project to enhance the Avenue. Walter was inspired by a public art project in Pittsburg, where he saw tree trunks adorned with coats of mesh metal. He passed away before the Corydon project, which evolved into a series of painted metal figures, was completed.
The Colours of Corydon is another of the many reasons to love Winnipeg. For more information on this project visit www.corydonbiz.com.
