More public art projects coming to Oshawa
Utility boxes in five wards to be transformed
By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express
Oshawa will continue to show its artistic side as public art projects are set to continue around the city in 2019.
In June 2018, city council officially endorsed Oshawa’s first-ever public art master plan, continuing work that began in 2015 with the establishment of a public art policy.
The city’s community services committee has recommended a number of projects for the upcoming year.
The Bell Box Mural Project is a community engaged art program organized by Community Matters Toronto in partnership with Bell Canada.
Since 2009, artists working with the project have painted more than 300 murals on Bell Canada utility boxes in 35 communities in Ontario and Quebec.
The plan is to have an artist, chosen by Community Matters Toronto, create a mural on a utility box in each of Oshawa’s five wards.
According to a staff report, there are no associated costs for the city, as Bell is responsible for preparing the boxes, as well as repairing them if damaged.
Public feedback on the locations of these boxes was collected during the preparation of the public art master plan.
City staff has proposed the following locations for the murals:
Ward 1 – Near the intersection of Ritson Road North and Taunton Road East
Ward 2 – Near the intersection of Simcoe Street North and Britannia Avenue
Ward 3 – Near the intersection of Wilson Road North and Rossland Road East
Ward 4 – Near the intersection of Centre Street South and John Street West
Ward 5 – Near the intersection of Cedar Street and Thomas Street
It is anticipated the utility box murals will have a life cycle of five years.
Oshawa’s popular Peony Festival is celebrating its 15th year in 2019.
Over the past six years, the festival has featured a photo contest, welcoming submissions from the public to showcase the diversity of peonies.
The top image is selected by the Canadian Peony Society, and used in the following year’s marketing materials, including posters, social media, and programs.
In coordination with the 15th anniversary, staff propose selected images from the past six years be featured on hanging banners in the Children’s Arena parking lot through July to help build awareness of the festival.
The final initiative is the installation of art designs in Alexandra Park near Lakeridge Health Oshawa, and the waiting area of Lakeridge’s Children, Youth and Family Program (CYFP) area.
The art is created by students in Durham College’s Community Collaborations course, which is part of the Teaching City and City Idea Lab program, which allows students to engage in urban issues and problem solving.
The students’ works were inspired by personal stories submitted by participants of the CYFP program and their family members, medical professionals and other members of the public.
These projects are anticipated to have a life cycle of two to three years.