Vancouver's Year of Reconciliation Public Art Series Receives International Recognition

Following the review of over 350 artworks, the Americans for the Arts' Public Art Network recognized the City of Vancouver's Year of Reconciliation Public Art series as one of 31 outstanding projects created in 2014. The prestigious award is selected by a jury of independent experts and celebrates the most compelling public artworks produced in North America.

The City's series of 10 commissioned works were created by Krista Belle Stewart, Jeannette Sirois, Dionne Paul, Brian Liu, Alexa Hatanaka, Emilie Crewe, Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Jeremy Borsos, Sonny Assu, and the collaborative team of Tania Willard, Gabrielle Hill and Peter Morin. The impressive slate of artists are both aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians with backgrounds from Vancouver, Hong Kong, the Okanagan Nation's Upper Nicola Band and the Kwakwaka'wakw culture of Quadra Island.

During the spring and summer of 2014 their artworks were presented in bus shelters, on video screens located in the downtown core, as large-scale banners in the atrium of the Vancouver Public Library downtown, and as an over-sized photo mural at the Canada Line City Centre Station.

The project was one of many civic activities supporting the 'Year of Reconciliation' proclaimed by Mayor and Council. Lasting from June 21, 2013 to June 20, 2014, it sought to stimulate awareness of the historical impacts of residential schools and racial injustices, and to encourage reconciliation and healing.

The Public Art Programs supports excellence in public art of many kinds, by emerging and established artists, in new and traditional media, and through award-winning commissions and artist collaborations. The program produces contemporary art for public spaces throughout the city.

Those who may have missed the outdoor exhibition or wish to be reminded can view the video art, meet all the artists, and learn what inspires their work.

Want to help celebrate the artists on Social Media? By all means re-tweet or share the news on Facebook! You can also learn about the City of Vancouver's Year of Reconciliation.