By Katie Ryan
Though the Olympic torch has come and gone through Lloydminster, the memory of it burns brightly for many.
And soon, the flame’s cross-border trek will be commemorated with an Olympic Torch Relay Legacy Piece, honouring both the spirit of the Olympics and the community.
The city’s artist-in-residence, Laura Hale, was charged with the task of creating a work of art, thanks to a Saskatchewan government grant that was awarded to each Olympic Torch Relay Celebration Community.
While the grant required artists to create a permanent art piece within certain parameters, Hale rose to the occasion and is excited to share her work with the community.
“It had to reflect the spirit of the Olympic games along with the culture of the community,” said Hale of the yet-to-be named legacy piece.
Using the Olympic rings and name in the art was not an option according to the grant. Following extensive research on Lloydminster and the Olympic Games, Hale was inspired by a local landmark.
Towering over 50 Avenue, Hale incorporated the red border markers into the legacy piece, representing both the community and Olympic history.
“Back in the day the (Olympic) torchbearer would be walking through the streets telling people to put down their weapons and that is was safe to travel. It was a time of peace during these games,” said Hale.
“It was all about equality, inclusion and friendship. Borders were also open to everyone and safe travel across borders was guaranteed, so that automatically took me to the border markers. Lloydminster, being Canada’s only Border City, is a really unique place and I think we should celebrate our red border markers as something really unique.”
Woven into the border markers are lines of motion, expressing the power of athletes and sport.
“Think of someone running in the wind and the swoosh behind them or the skate marks – grace, movement and beauty,” said Hale, adding they also represent wind moving back and forth, as well as the people of Lloydminster and surrounding area who traverse freely across the border daily.
Hale incorporated all of the Olympic ring colours – red, yellow, blue, green and black – into her piece as well. Each colour can be found in all the nation’s flags, who participate in the Olympics and by using the Olympic colours and weaving them through the border markers, Hale said the artwork celebrates global togetherness and a border that is open to all.
Amidst the bustling activity during the Olympic torch celebrations in Bud Miller Park on Jan. 12, visitors had an opportunity to learn about the legacy artwork from a rendering on display in the Leisure Centre.
Until the artwork is completed and installed, the rendering will be located at the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre for viewing.
Hale is teaming up with Signs ‘n More to bring the piece to fruition. The scale of the piece – 20-feet by 20-feet – limits the possible locations for installation in the community. The legacy piece is not freestanding and will stick out two inches from the building it is secured to.
The location has yet to be determined, however, since Hale’s studio is situated in Bud Miller Park, Hale’s vote is for the legacy piece to find a home in the park on the Leisure Centre.
“I spend a lot of time in that park and in the summer when the ice isn’t on the lake, it has this really nice reflection off the water on to that building. It’s already lit and for public interaction of vandalism, it has less of chance because of the fence around it,” said Hale.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Legacy piece will be made of Alumibond, a light, weather resistant and high quality aluminum material that can be produced in a variety of colours.
“The colour won’t fade, it’s UV resistant and it’s great for the extreme temperatures that we have,” said Hale of the material.
Since she began her residency in the community over a year ago, Hale has become known for her temporary art installations, including the most recent ice carved inukshuk greeting visitors to Bud Miller Park at the entrance.
Now, not only is Hale creating a piece that will toast the Olympics, it will also be a part of Hale’s legacy as the community’s first artist-in-residence.
“It’s a great opportunity, definitely, that I wouldn’t have gotten if I hadn’t come to Lloydminster to do this residency,” said Hale. “It’s a real honour to be given this project, that the community has that much trust in my work. They know what my quality and my standards are so I think it’s really special. When I look back on it 10, 20 years from now, it will be quite an honour to have it.”
The total cost of the project is $10,000, which is covered by Saskatchewan’s $45,000 Celebration Community grant.
City council approved Hale’s Olympic Torch legacy concept design during the final council meeting of 2009. Hale expects to complete the legacy piece by the summer.