A piece of permanent art will be installed in Maffeo Sutton Park alongside temporary art pieces like the one pictured. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

Art attack

Eye-catching permanent art coming to Maffeo Sutton Park

Nov 15, 2019 | 7:12 AM

NANAIMO — The already beautiful Maffeo Sutton Park will soon have even more to enjoy.

The City of Nanaimo is requesting proposals for permanent art in the waterfront park.

Temporary art which is replaced each year is already dotted around the park, but City cultural coordinator Chris Barfoot said this is a “long overdue” chance to build a permanent connection to the park.

“Maffeo Sutton Park is one of our premier parks and seems to be the hub of our current temporary art program,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We wanted to put in something significant and long-lasting that has a really deep, rich connection to Maffeo Sutton Park.”

Permanent art like the Songbird at Diana Krall Plaza and the Spindal Whorl at Victoria Cres. are scene as artistic jewels of the downtown.

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“Maffeo Sutton Park being one of the most beautiful parks around, the public art can only enhance that further.”

An art piece which created the connection and social hub the City is seeking was The Frame.

It was first introduced near Swy-a-lana Lagoon in the park in 2013 and removed in late 2017. The art piece was falling apart due to surviving years of weather conditions it wasn’t built to withstand.

“We were really lucky and fortunate to get the four years out of The Frame that we did. What we learned is the community does make strong connections with these projects.”

Barfoot said it’s hoped the new piece of permanent art would achieve the recognition of The Frame.

Replacing the famous wooden frame isn’t in the works.

spencer@nanaimnewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit