Art abounds in Wildwood!
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What is art? A comprehensive answer is well beyond the 400 words allocated for this article. In my former job at the Manitoba Arts Council, it was the subject of endless discussion.
Art exists in various forms and plays multiple roles, both for the artist and its audience.
Sometimes art is an expression of personal emotion. Art can be activism; a motivator for awareness and social change.
Photo by Dana Mohr
A lifelong bunny lover, correspondent Dana Mohr commissioned a neighbour to create a large-scale sculpture to adorn her yard.
Art can foster pride. Murals and sculptures celebrate achievements of community members.
Art is what you believe it to be.
Over the winter, seasonal displays of public art in my neighbours’ yards emerged. Most in the form of creative lighting, decorations or snow sculptures for the holidays. This art is an individual expression of joy, that their creators, old and young alike, have chosen to share with others.
There are also more permanent displays of art in the park. An inukshuk on the main path is often clothed to coincide with a holiday or an important event. Recently it wore a Blue Jays jersey. It’s reminiscent of the Mannequin Pis in Brussels, but with significantly fewer outfits.
On Oakenwald Avenue, one artist has turned his yard into a gallery of whimsical sculptures made from scrap metal.
A young adult nearby, possibly an art student, uses the sidewalk as her canvas for chalk drawings.
In the spring, gardens – art in their own right – sprout handcrafted butterflies, leaves cleverly embedded into paving stones and sculptures made of decorative rocks. A home on Manchester Boulevard was once an enchanted fairy garden, enjoyed particularly by children.
Throughout the pandemic, I took photographs of art displayed in windows, in yards, along fences. It was art to encourage and inspire hope for those experiencing the worst of the pandemic. Every day I enjoyed something new.
Art can express someone’s passions. As a lifelong bunny lover, I commissioned a neighbour to create a large-scale sculpture to adorn my yard. Through my window, I see people smile, then I smile.
We are lucky to have a lot of art in Wildwood, some of it more visible than others. But if you look for it, you will find it. Thank your neighbours for sharing their vision of art. Returning to my artistic roots, I am taking a 10-week watercolour painting course – 10 weeks, 10 paintings.
Many are likely to become gifts. My friends may or may not thank me for this vision.