New art installed along Wolfville, N.S., waterfront evokes differing opinions

WOLFVILLE, N.S. — A new art installation along Wolfville’s waterfront is creating a buzz.

Five-foot-high metal letters, spelling out the town’s name, were installed in Waterfront Park on Jan. 12. The letters are attached to a 32-foot beam anchored to the rocks. It was a project of the Wolfville Business Development Corporation (WBDC) to draw people to the downtown core.

“I know there’s been a pile of people down there getting their pictures taken,” said Allan Simm, of Avon River Metalworks in Falmouth, who created the installation. “We weren’t out of there five minutes and people were texting me and taking pictures.”

But some people say the art obstructs the view of Blomidon and the Minas Basin.

“I’m like take five steps to the right or left,” Simm said.

There is a viewing area to the left of the letters and a gazebo to the right.

The town posted about the project on its Facebook and Instagram pages on Jan. 12 to advise people to consider it a construction site while the installation took place. By Jan. 15, it had received 115,000 interactions.

“Obviously, those are not usual numbers for us,” Barb Shaw, who handles communications and special projects for the town, said Jan. 15 during a special council meeting called on the issue. “This has caught the attention of community members and folks further afield.”

For context, the town’s post with the second-most interactions dealt with the Touchdown Atlantic CFL game at Acadia University in 2022. It had 10,000 interactions.

Coun. Jodi MacKay, who is council’s representative on the corporation, said while it has an engaged community the numbers were higher than expected. She said the town and corporation worked together on the project and fully support it.

“I think it’s a beautiful piece of art,” she said. “The WBDC was thoughtful and conscientious about what they put there. It fits and I really do hope people grow to love it.”

None of the councillors spoke against the art at the council meeting.

“I thought it was beautiful,” said Coun. Jennifer Ingham, noting she had her photo taken by the sign on the weekend. “It looked like it had always been there.”

Need to know

Waterfront Park

• What – A Wolfville park that opened on July 1, 2000. It runs parallel to Main Street.
• Where – Turn north at the four-way intersection at Gaspereau Avenue and Main Street. Go across the trail and the park is to the east.
• Latest addition – The Wolfville Business Development Corporation has installed a new piece of art that spells out Wolfville in the park.

Wolfville public works staff looked at the installation on Jan. 15 and have come up with some ideas to improve safety in the area. The town will work with the corporation on them. It includes more signage letting the public know not to climb on the rocks or the installation. A temporary sign was posted during the installation process.

“I counted at least eight great spots to get your photo with that sign where you don’t have to climb on a rock,” Coun. Mike Butler said. “I love that sign.”

Councillors said they thoroughly discussed the installation a few times in 2023.

“I do know that the discussion on the sign was long, it was thoughtful, it was conscientious,” MacKay said. “The materials and artist were selected with care.”

Coun. Isabel Madeira-Voss said the same process was used in this case as what had been done in the past with the Uncommon Common Art and mural projects. Those didn’t strike the nerve that the latest project did with some people.

“I think this one is a little more split due to the view,” MacKay said.

Councillors spoke about revisiting its public art committee, which was disbanded due to a lull in activity a number of years ago. Councillors directed staff to prepare a report on public art for council. Ingham noted it would be important to set out the terms of reference noting that the Wolfville sign is on town-owned land while the murals were on private property.

Some people suggested online that the money the installation cost could have been used to address homelessness or repair infrastructure like the roads in town.

MacKay said the town’s residential and commercial tax revenue was not used for the project. She said WBDC used its own funds and a provincial beautification grant to pay for the $26,000 project.

“The WBDC used its tax levy, which comes from the commercial businesses solely.”

As of Jan. 17, there were more than 500 comments on the town’s Facebook post.

Some said they thought the art would attract people downtown and others mentioned their disappointment with the project had nothing to do with Simm’s creation.

“It just is not the right spot for it,” Dolores McPhee Fineberg wrote. “We are not in Hollywood. It will never ‘grow on me’ like our beautiful orchards and vineyards.”

Jo-Anne Kobelt wrote the installation was doing what public art does, cause a discussion.

“Let’s see this one out, it may turn out to be a huge success. Give it a chance.”

MacKay said she was looking forward to this summer’s Mud Creek Days celebrations at the park.

“I can’t wait to see the fireworks that go (off) above it. I think it’s going to be the most iconic picture of 2024.”