Walks along Vancouver Island beaches and encountering strands of bull kelp washed up on shore inspired Nanaimo artist Angellos Glaros to create a sculpture.
He works with steel to create his art pieces and said he is influenced by the Island’s natural surroundings.
“I am trying to get the fluidity, the softness of it by using steel,” he said about his kelp sculpture.
Glaros was one of the Nanaimo artists whose work was selected to be part of this year’s temporary public art program.
His piece, called Kelp Structure, when complete will stand about 2.4 metres high and 1.2m across.
Glaros said his sculpture is slated to be installed across from the Port Theatre, where the piece Solstice, created by Elizabeth Welburn, Samuel Houston and Deryk Houston, now resides.
Glaros began drawing as a child. He attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and the Dundas Valley School of Art in Ontario.
He opened his studio, Glaros Studios, four years ago in South Wellington. Along with his sculptures he also creates furniture pieces, concepts and designs for offices and homes and other carpentry work.
Glaros said he just naturally gravitated towards sculpting.
“It speaks to me better, the tactile, the feel of it,” said Glaros. “I still like drawing, but now my drawing tends to be concept drawing.”
While Glaros works in both wood and steel, he said wood is subtractive while metal is additive.
Chris Sholberg, culture and heritage planner for the City of Nanaimo, said the temporary public art program is growing and this year there were 39 submissions from artists across Canada.
“Our program is reaching artists nationwide,” he said.
There were nine artists chosen this year to have work installed as part of the program.
Seven out of the nine art pieces chosen are from Nanaimo artists. The other two artists hail from Victoria, Scott Gillies, and Toronto, Labspace Studio.
The 2016 pieces chosen include: The Core, by Bryan Faubert; Cerebrum Digitalis, by Maggie Wouterloot; L-O-V-E Bird, by Mia Tremblay and Craig Lambie; Driftwood, by Gillies; Kelp Structure, by Glaros; Carved Panel, by William Good; Salmon on the Bridge, by Laura Timmermans; The Porthole, by Victoria Drakeford and Passage by Labspace Studio.
The new pieces are slated to be installed during Public Art Week, May 16-20.
“Public art enhances community and place, celebrating our past, present and future,” said Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay, in a press release. “Community members are constantly commenting on how public art adds visual interest and vibrancy to our public spaces.”
The pieces were approved for installation by Nanaimo city council in January.
The temporary public art program began in 2010, with the aim of creating outdoor galleries in the spaces the work occupies and for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, according to the City of Nanaimo’s website.
For more info please go to www.nanaimo.ca.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com