Seeing red at the Visual Arts Centre

By David F. Rooney
Kudos to the Revelstoke Rotary Club for coming out to the Visual Arts Centre and throwing themselves into the mammoth task of giving the former RCMP detachment building a badly needed facelift.
The slate and red paint they slapped on the building’s exterior in Saturday, May 23, really makes it stand out. The Visual Arts Society, which operates The Centre, is landscaping the grounds around the building and the City’s Public Art Committee has recommended that Blowing in the Wind be installed in the garden that will come alive over the summer and fall.  Blowing in the Wind by Nelson sculptor John McKinnon is a graceful and almost lyrical bronze representation of wind-blown autumn leaves. All of those things combined should make it hard for passersby to wander past The Centre and its galleries with going in for a tour.
The total cost of thus work of art is estimated at $50,000, all of it being funded by the provincial Resort Municipal Initiative Program — not local taxes. McKinnon should be very familiar to Revelstokians. He designed the bears that grace the entrance to the city. While it is being installed at the Visual Arts Centre, the sculpture will be owned by the City. Council is expected to decide on the purchase during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 26. (Please click here to read the report to Council from the Committee.)
Volunteers are still needed to help finish the paint job on Tuesday, May 26, starting at 8:30 am. If you’d like to help with this ‘paint-in’ drop by the Visual Arts Centre at 320 Wilson Street.
Here are some photos of the Rotary Club volunteers in action as well as reproduction of McKinnon’s sketch of the bronze sculpture:

The Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre is undergoing a major facelift. Last year these planters were installed on the grounds and on Saturday, May 23, Rotary Club members and other volunteers spent the day repainting the structure, which was — once upon a time — the old RCMP detachment. David F. Rooney photo
The Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre is undergoing a major facelift. Last year these planters were installed on the grounds and on Saturday, May 23, Rotary Club members and other volunteers spent the day repainting the structure, which was — once upon a time — the old RCMP detachment. David F. Rooney photo

Chuck Ferguson and Margaret Pacaud put some oomph into the new coat of red paint that is enlivening the exterior of the building. David F. Rooney photo
Chuck Ferguson and Margaret Pacaud put some oomph into the new coat of red paint that is enlivening the exterior of the building. David F. Rooney photo

The building was, for several years, a pale and uninspiring yellow. Its new colours are slate and eye-popping red. David F. Rooney photo
The building was, for several years, a pale and uninspiring yellow. Its new colours are slate and eye-popping red. David F. Rooney photo

Rotary Club member Steven Hui looked a little well-baked as he painted the lower part of a wall. David F. Rooney photo
Rotary Club member Steven Hui looked a little well-baked as he painted the lower part of a wall. David F. Rooney photo

This is a sketch of the soon-to-be-created bronze sculpture, Blowing in the Wind, that is to be created by sculptor John McKinnon. The City's Public Art Committee spend many weeks considering different proposals by artists from across the country before settling on this sculptural representation of autumn leaves blowing in the wind. This work of art will be over nine feet tall and will be one of the outstanding features of the landscaping project underway at the Visual Arts Centre this summer. It is to be installed by early-to-mid-October. The total cost of thus work of art is estimated at $50,000, all of it being funded by the provincial Resort Municipal Initiative Program — not local taxes. McKinnon should be very familiar to Revelstokians. He designed the bears that grace the entrance to the city. The sculpture will be owned by the City. City Council is to decide on approving the purchase during its meeting on Tuesday, May 26. Image courtesy of the City of Revelstoke
This is a sketch of the soon-to-be-created bronze sculpture, Blowing in the Wind, that is to be created by sculptor John McKinnon. The City’s Public Art Committee spend many weeks considering different proposals by artists from across the country before settling on this sculptural representation of autumn leaves blowing in the wind. This work of art will be over nine feet tall and will be one of the outstanding features of the landscaping project underway at the Visual Arts Centre this summer. It is to be installed by early-to-mid-October. The total cost of thus work of art is estimated at $50,000, all of it being funded by the provincial Resort Municipal Initiative Program — not local taxes. McKinnon should be very familiar to Revelstokians. He designed the bears that grace the entrance to the city. The sculpture will be owned by the City. City Council is to decide on approving the purchase during its meeting on Tuesday, May 26. Image courtesy of the City of Revelstoke

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