Artists apply to represent Canada in Quinte Mall installation

The Quinte Mall is asking artists to display what Canada means to them in the most creative way, according to the mall’s marketing co-ordinator Erin Graham. Photo by Rachel Stark, QNet News

By Rachel Stark

BELLEVILLE – Co-owners of a local art studio are applying to represent Canada in a creative way.

A search is on for a local artist to create Canada’s 150th birthday themed art installation by the Quinte Mall.

Prince Edward County‘s Spark Box Studio is just one of the applicants looking to do the job. It is home to many art installations, and co-owners Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping plan to submit one of them to the contest.

The installation titled Progress was created through the exploration of Canada’s history and what the pair found special about Prince Edward County. The studio partnered with interior designer Alexandre Fida to create the structure.

“We talked about what Canada has to offer, and we looked at maps to see what we thought was special in Prince Edward County and put it all into one piece,” said Fida.

The Quinte Mall is part of a Canada-wide mall competition to display an installation with a theme of Canada’s past, present, and future.

Malls part of 20 VIC Management Inc. throughout the country are all taking part in the contest to celebrate Canada leading up to July 1.

Applications are being accepted until Feb. 17. The winner notified by Feb. 24 will have two months to complete the project in their artistic medium.

Poitras said many art pieces made in their studio are based off a Canadian theme.

“Maybe it’s the way we position ourselves in the county but the artists that visit often create work based on the county or where they are from,” she said.

Poitras said when thinking about living in Canada, she felt fortunate to grow up in a place where she could speak her mind and be the person she wanted to.

Erin Graham, marketing co-ordinator for Quinte Mall, said she is looking forward to seeing what different art proposals are submitted to help the Quinte Mall represent Canada.

“It’s hard to say right now where in the mall it will be or what it will look like, every submission will be unique,” she said.

The art is to be displayed starting in May and will be a backdrop for mall customers to take pictures in front of as part of a so-called selfie contest, where customers will have a chance to win weekly prizes through social media. A grand prize of a trip for two to a Canadian city will also be given at the end of the contest.

The installation will be on display until July.