The Frame was removed in late December, 2017 after years of surviving weather conditions it wasn't prepared for. (Jason Gress)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

public art

Popular Maffeo Sutton art piece won’t be replaced

May 28, 2019 | 4:41 PM

NANAIMO — A popular landmark used for scenic photos looking out over the Nanaimo harbour won’t be returning to Maffeo Sutton Park.

Nanaimo councillors unanimously voted to officially remove the art piece The Frame from the Community Plan for Public Art, after the much-beloved piece was removed in late December, 2017.

It was taken down more than five years after it was put up as part of the Temporary Public Art program.

Artist Jason Gress, a Vancouver Island University professor, told NanaimoNewsNOW the warm, ongoing response to his piece kept him invested in creating art.

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“The first day of installation I was putting the final touches on the piece. No one had come around yet. Then a couple from Japan came up. They looked at it and sussed it out right away. They went around back and started taking their picture with it. It was at that moment it clicked, that people were going to get it.”

Since the piece was taken down more than a year ago, Gress said he’s worked on a proposal to replace The Frame with a new one made out of welded aluminum and painted with a gold antique finish.

At the moment, however, a replacement isn’t in the works. Conducting a call for artists for replacement artwork was a possible motion Nanaimo councillors didn’t vote on.

Mayor Krog did note The Frame was one of the most beautiful pieces of artwork to grace Maffeo Sutton Park and it’s picturesque view out into the harbour.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit