Two popular Sandwich gathering spots are home to four new community art pieces thanks to funding by the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan. The four installations were developed as part of Life After Fifty’s West End Art Project, which received $20,000 in Community Benefit Plan funding earlier this year. The project targeted youth involvement and the development of art that would reflect the history and culture of the Sandwich community.
During the summer, Life After Fifty conducted an online consultation asking the public for feedback on the type of art they’d like to see in the Sandwich community. They also issued a call for local youth artists and concepts for possible collaboration.
“These beautiful, creative additions to the Sandwich area demonstrate the strong sense of community pride that exists amongst its residents,” says Bryce Phillips, CEO of Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. “We are continually inspired by the Sandwich community and are pleased to see the funding provided through the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan enhance the area’s gathering spaces.”
The art is located at Queen’s Dock park and the Dominion House Tavern garden.
Art Piece 1: A naturalized picnic table which represents an Indigenous family tree. This piece, “All My Relations,” by Jessica Rachel Cook, uses unique and beautiful re-claimed wood to display the artist’s familial diversity that represents her family tree and the stories they tell in the West Windsor area.
Art Piece 2: A directional signpost created by the Vanguard Collective out of skateboards from Sandwich Towne’s Bliss Skateboard Shop. You will notice this piece’s bright paint colours and eye-catching imagery that encompasses elements of the community including parks, businesses, history and stories representing West Windsor.
Art Piece 3: A hand-painted wayfinding map. Each member of the Vanguard Collective desired to foster appreciation for a part of the city that they felt deserved recognition. This map uses photographs from all around the west end, layered on an abstract, colourful map. Photographs were taken to represent the connection to the surrounding community and reflect survey and poll results of the places that residents frequent in Windsor’s west end.
Art Piece 4: A unique, brightly coloured picnic table with monarch butterflies and imagery of other wildlife that can be found on the banks of the Detroit River. You will find this art piece at the Dominion House Tavern. This final piece of art was a solo project, designed and coordinated by Kristina Bradt.
Life After Fifty Window Display
Location: 635 McEwan Ave.
Dates: September 25, 2020 – October 2, 2020
