- Ceremony to include official remarks and musical performances
Niagara Falls, ON – Niagara Parks is pleased to celebrate the completion of Niagara Strait, a major new sculpture by artist Gordon M. Reeve, with an official unveiling ceremony on Thursday, May 9, at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Niagara Strait is comprised of three stainless steel walls, which mimic the imposing walls of the Niagara Gorge, creating a dramatic sense of entry to the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Inspired by the seldom seen depths of the Great Gorge, the open interior of the installation is designed to invite visitors to explore the smooth, yet rugged walls and view this artistic piece from every angle, before beginning their journey into the gardens.
The unveiling ceremony will feature performances of music that inspired the artist throughout his creative process of designing Niagara Strait. The program will include a new original piece for the pipigwan (traditional Anishinaabe wooden flute) by Barbara Croall, an Odawa First Nations composer, performer and teacher, and Karl Jenkins’ Benedictus performed by Brock University’s quartet-in-residence, the Walker String Quartet.
Niagara Parks’ investment in this public art installation, with the support of the Province of Ontario, further advances Niagara Parks’ mandate as the environmental and cultural stewards of the Niagara River corridor.
| What: Official unveiling of Niagara Strait sculpture. Interview opportunities with Niagara-based artist Gordon M. Reeve, Niagara Parks Chair Sandie Bellows, CEO David Adames and Senior Director of Parks, Environment and Culture, Steve Barnhart. |
| When: Thursday, May 9 at 11 a.m. |
| Where: Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens Plaza, along front entrance path to the Butterfly Conservatory, 2565 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls |
| Parking: Free event parking in the front parking lot. |
Project Background
The professional art competition to develop a public artwork piece for the Botanical Gardens comprised a key component of Niagara Parks’ 2017 Rooted programming, supported by the Ontario 150 funding program administered by the Government of Ontario. Artists were invited to submit designs for a public installation that “celebrates and embodies the unique spirit of the people of Niagara, from the original Indigenous inhabitants thousands of years ago, to the people who are proud to call Niagara home today”. Gordon M. Reeve’s Niagara Strait was selected as the winning design.
Former Professor of Sculpture at the University of Manitoba, Gordon M. Reeve has completed various other large-scale public installations over his career, as well as produced a number of award-winning films on art, architecture and performance. His works are recognized for being ecologically responsible and for their ability to stand the test of time in both their design and durability of materials.
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