In 2017 Canada will turn 150 years old and to celebrate the District of Sooke has authorized the creation of a mosaic. The mosaic will be designed by a local artist and painted by up to 400 residents.
Sooke was selected to be a part of the Canada-wide Canada150mosaic project because of the size of the community.
“We were picked because we are a smaller community and because it requires the entire community to be a part of it to be successful,” said John Russell, one of three coordinators of the project for the Sooke Program for the Arts (SPA) Committee.
The Canada 150 team consults with each community to learn about important and interesting moments that define the community, its history and its citizens to design key elements for mural.
Lewis Lavoie designs a conceptual mural for approval by the community.
Russell said anyone can submit a design for the mural, which will be made up of 400 tiles each 4”x4”. The mural itself will be 8 feet by 8 feet.
The idea is for the mural to be “one simple iconic image or symbol that represents or defines your community.”
Entry forms can be picked up at the District of Sooke municipal office (2205 Otter Point Road) or online at www.sooke.ca and printed off. Those submitting can enter more than one design. The final painting of the mosaic tiles will be done by members of the community. everyone from seniors to school children to artists.
The selection process is in three steps. First: all designs are submitted to the District of Sooke.
Step two is the selection process where five designs will be selected by council from the submissions.
Step three involves the designs being sent to the designer of the Canada150mosaic. The selected design will be sent back to council for approval.
The local residents will paint the tiles at various community events in late June/July of 2016. The 400 tiles will be from a design of the individual participants thereby completing the whole mural. For an idea of how it will look check out the canada150mosaic.com website.
The finale will be a three-day affair where designers from Calgary will arrive in Sooke to put together the entire mosaic.
Forms can also be picked up from the district at the Sooke News Mirror office. Once you complete your image in black and white on the square on the entry form you can submit it to the district office in person or by e-mail until April l5. Complete instructions are on the forms.
“Hopefully it will be installed in a suitable location,” said Russell. The designer of the winning image will be formally recognized for their design.
For more information: canada150mosaic.com or phone John Russell at 250-642-7837 or johnrussellart@gmail.com.