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Public Services Committee recommends adding sculpture to Police Point Park

Jun 11, 2018 | 4:45 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A sculpture which was rejected for the Canalta Centre by city council could find a new home in the city.

During Monday’s Public Services Committee meeting, the committee supported a recommendation from the Public Art Committee and the Arts and Heritage Advisory Board to purchase a sculpture named Old Man Buffalo Stone to be used as public art at Police Point Park.

The sculpture, made by Stewart Steinhauer, costs $17,000 ($16,000 for the art, $1,000 for installation). It was originally going to be placed at the Canalta Centre, but it was rejected by council in March.

Councillor Kris Samraj introduced the motion in March, when Old Man Buffalo Stone and a second sculpture were recommended to be placed at the Canalta Centre.

During Monday’s meeting, however, he expressed his support for the project in Police Point Park.

“The public art policy as it stands gives the committee the ability to initiate public art projects out of reserve funds, which they have done so here,” he said/ “Now, I have some reservations about the policy, but until that’s revised or appealed, I will support this.”

Samraj went on to clarify his support for the statue in Police Point Park

“The process for the Canalta Centre, I think, was different, in that there was already a public art chosen for the site, when the two sculptures were proposed by the Public Art Committee,” he said, referring to the mural by James Marshall.”In my opinion, we were doubling down on public art at that site. This is a different site and a different process.”

A final decision will be made during the city council meeting on June 18.