By Spencer Sterritt

Eye-catching art set up around Nanaimo for Public Art Week

May 13, 2017 | 11:48 AM

NANAIMO — There’s more public art around Nanaimo to draw your eye. 

Seven pieces were installed across the city for Public Art Week. The latest piece, called the “Hungry Bunny,” will be unveiled at Maffeo Sutton Park on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Sculptor Dale Schulz, who made the 10-foot tall piece out of welded steel, said he was originally inspired after observing various pieces around Nanaimo and was in for a surprise.

“Originally I thought it was a pretty easy thing to do, turns out it’s not so my hat is now off for all those who have done sculptures in the park,” he said. 

Having enjoyed art of all sorts for years, Schulz said it’s more important than ever to support public art. 

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“When you see the creativity that goes into these pieces, the colour they add to the waterfront, I think they help show the creative side of Nanaimo citizens. They’re attractive to not only tourists but people who use the park all the time. I think we often forget that art is important.”

The “Hungry Bunny” is, according to Schulz, a response to Nanaimo’s overwhelming number of rabbits. “The idea being that, at what point does a small, cute creature become a big, hard problem? And that’s why the big steel squared-off hammerhead.”

Some pieces will stick around, like the artwork on the fence around the Jean Burns building, while others are more temporary. 

-with files from Dominic Abassi

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit