Where did that neat fence art of Terry Fox come from? The Answer Man tracks it down

Dear Answer Man,

Not long ago my dog and I went for a walk near Pioneer Park. As we made our way along the path behind the Kamloops Tennis Club, I noticed an interesting piece of fence art (my dog was more interested in the possibility of stray tennis balls) that appears to be a pixelated portrait of Terry Fox.

It had been a while since I walked in the area so this was new to me. Can you tell me when this went up, what the occasion was and who the artist is?

I think its pretty neat, and a fun way to add a little life to an otherwise boring chain link fence.

Thanks!
CLAUDINE SLEIK

Dear Claudine,

Thank you very much for your question. Answer Man first asked Linda at the Kamloops Tennis Club about it. “That’s a very good question,” she said. But she did know it had something to do with the Terry Fox Run, so we next called April Buder, the organizer of the annual run.

It’s an interesting story. April says that the night before last year’s run, which was held on Sept. 15, a call was received from a man who said he’d like to weave a likeness of Terry Fox into that fence. Sure enough, by the time the run was held the next day, there it was. Fast work!

But who is the artist? The Answer Man went to the City’s facilities manager Jeff Putnam in hopes he’d know something about it and Jeff had the answer.

The artist is Bill Frymire, who created his work of art using plastic milk cartons. It’s so durable the City agreed to leave it there for as long as it lasts.

Bill is a commercial artist who started as a graphic designer and switched to illustration. He writes on his website, “I’ve always harbored a desire to create art for the pure joy of it, art that looks beautiful. Art that also has deeper meaning for those who care to look, or even touch.”

He certainly succeeded with his fence art of Terry Fox. He says he likes using re-usable materials when possible.

Thanks for the photos, by the way. April and her committee are starting to make plans for this year’s run, which is scheduled for Sept. 14, and its likely the fence art will still be there, and maybe for years to come.

ANSWER MAN

Please send questions about all things Kamloops to The Answer Man at armchair mayor@gmail.com.