The Town of Oakville has selected artist Laura Marotta to create a permanent outdoor sculpture as part of the redevelopment of Oakville Arena and Trafalgar Park.
Marotta’s sculpture Octagon for Trafalgar Park will be installed at the north entrance of the new community centre at 133 Rebecca Street. With its polished stainless steel surfaces and geometric lines, the large-scale structure is designed to be a social hub that invites exploration and reflection by visitors as they move around the piece and view it from its many angles.
“The new community centre will be a popular gathering place for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and Laura’s sculpture is designed to be accessible and engaging for everyone,” said Sarah Douglas-Murray, the town’s Senior Manager of Cultural Services, “Public art brings people together and sparks conversation in the community and we’re very excited to bring this unique sculpture to the neighbourhood.”
An independent selection committee made up of visual arts professionals, community representatives and town staff selected Marotta’s sculpture after evaluating 47 applications submitted by professional Canadian artists and inviting a shortlist of five applicants to submit more detailed proposals.
Laura Marotta is a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate from the University of Guelph. Her artwork has been featured in curated exhibitions at the McMaster Museum of Art, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, the Art Gallery of Burlington and The Cotton Factory in Hamilton. The committee of Hamilton’s SUPERCRAWL festival also commissioned her to produce a public sculpture for the 2014 event. She received the Established Artist Award from the City of Hamilton and Emerging Artist Grants from the Ontario Arts Council. Her sculpture Bead Maze won the West Harbour GO Station Public Art Competition commissioned by Metrolinx and the City of Hamilton. For more information about her work, visit laura-marotta.com.
Octagon for Trafalgar Park will be installed in the summer of 2018 and unveiled when the community centre opens to the public in September. For more information about the Oakville Arena and Trafalgar Park redevelopment project, visit oakville.ca