‘We didn’t choose it,’ Dever says of new sculpture
‘Rivers’ sculpture and artist. (screenshot, Vancouver Sun)
NEWS — City council should have more input on what public art looks like, says Coun. Nelly Dever.
She raised the issue at council’s regular meeting today in the wake of a Vancouver Sun article revealing the concept for a $130,000 sculpture that will be installed next month at the Interior Savings Centre roundabout.
“There’s irony that council has input on form and character of a house… but doesn’t see the final form of the art,” Dever said of the 10-metre-tall steel and aluminum sculpture, created by artist Michael Yahgulanaas and which will represent two female forms rising from the water as a statement of the meeting of the North and South Thompson Rivers.
Mayor Peter Milobar pointed out that council had turned the decision over to the arts commission but Dever said it would have “been nice to see what that vision” was before it was installed.
Arts, culture and heritage manager Barb Berger said council has never chosen the final design for public art.
Coun. Pat Wallace noted that council had a lively debate several years ago after it was approached to buy “a coloured cow.”
“Any time public art is made in Kamloops we always get some pushback,” said Coun. Arjun Singh.
“I just wanted the public to know that we did not choose it,” said Dever.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
as per all the talk about art and investment in this community in the last couple of days (Kamloops Kamloops This Week and Armchairmayor articles), I say a community with no culture is a community with no soul. Art has risk and is inherently subjective, but without it, we are left with a shell of an existence. If we speak only with our minds, then we lose the heart, and vice versa. Canada still has a lot to learn from the rest of the world as to culture and its importance on community and identity. I say thank you to the City of Kamloops for supporting these cultural initiatives and priorities. Not everyone will see its value, but that does not mean the value does not exist. If we do not venture, we do not gain.
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I,m with you Nellie and not just because you,re pretty.If I bought some” art” like that,and I,ve got literally tons of it down behind the barn,at 130 k I,d sure want to peruse it first.Heck,I,m not doing much around the farm in winter,I,d have happily produced something silly for half the price. Old Singh could have come up and ok,d it and I could have bought a new Deere which I sorely need.Darn.Keep me in mind for your next roundabout.
Archie George,Barriere
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