Public Art

Some of the most common public artworks around this town are carvings. That is because every year the town, through the Shoreline Arts Society, hosts a Carving Competition the first week-end in July/last week in June. Carvers are given a chunk of log (I mean really large, west coast logs) and a small section of grass in a park, and told to have fun. There are categories for amateur, semi-professional and professional carvers. This year there were about five women competing, and probably at least 30 carvers total.

Once the competition is finished the pieces are left at the park for the public to see. The sign boards remain for about a week, to tell you what place the carving received, who did it, etc. Then the carvings migrate. Some stay for the summer at the shoreline park. Others appear at businesses (who may have sponsored the carver, or who have bought the carving outright) and also public spaces around town. Most people around here have a favourite carving – mine is the large stack of books found in our public library.

Mr. Kate and I went down last night to see the completed carvings from this year’s competition, and I thought I’d share my favourites.

Not just my favourite - this won people's choice and first place semi-professional.

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