In conversation with . . . Sharon McCoubrey
The arts are alive and well in Lake Country, due in no small measure to the efforts of Sharon McCoubrey.
McCoubrey, a professor emeritus at UBC Okanagan, is head of the public arts commission in the town of 14,000. She is a past president of the Canadian Society for Education through Art, and has been on the B.C. Art Teachers’ Association for more than 20 years.
Relying on $30,000 worth of municipal funding, but also the energetic involvement of many artistically-minded volunteers, the Lake Country Public Art Commission has enlivened public spaces in Lake Country with more than 30 works of art. The most recent artwork was unveiled just this past Saturday.
McCoubrey is also the long-time head of ArtWalk, a popular show and sale of juried artwork by top artists that is Lake Country’s most popular annual attraction. More than 7,000 people attend ArtWalk each September.
This week, reporter Ron Seymour asked McCoubrey about Lake Country’s vibrant arts scene, and the ongoing importance of public art.
COURIER: There was another unveiling of a public art project in Lake Country on the weekend. What’s this one, and how many pieces are now on display around town?
McCOUBREY: This new sculpture, called “Ponderosa Sphere” was created by artist, David Harder from Wells, B.C., and is a large orb made out of metal and pine bark chunks. He is making a statement with this art piece about the relationship between humans and nature, and the changes being made to the environment.
An interesting aspect of this sculpture project is that it is temporary. For the six months of its stay, we will be able to see if there are any changes to the sculpture.
This takes the number of outdoor public artworks in Lake Country to over 30.
In about a month, there will be an additional sculpture installed in Lake Country, which is a futuristic fruit tree created by Ottawa artist Karl Ciesluk. Look for that new artwork coming soon.
COURIER: Does Lake Country have more artists per capita than any other community in the Okanagan, or does it only seem that way?
McCOUBREY: It would be difficult to get exact figures from other communities in order to make such a comparison, but it is the case that there are many artists in Lake Country who contribute to the various cultural happenings that take place here each year. I believe the supportive approach taken by the municipality, and the dedicated contributions of so many volunteers result in many opportunities for artist participation. It is a good thing to be an artist living in Lake Country.
COURIER: How much funding does the District of Lake Country provide for public art annually?
McCOUBREY: The municipality provides funding directly to the Public Art Commission in the amount of $2 per capita annually. That means that the Public Art Commission receives just under $30,000 per year to address public art in Lake Country COURIER: Why is public art important? McCOUBREY: A city without public art would be lacking the feature that makes it interesting, livable, and appealing. Many studies have been conducted in many countries to verify that the addition of public art in a municipality improves its well-being through economic, aesthetic, social, and health contributions and improvements.
We can become used to our own communities through our daily comings and going, so sometimes it takes traveling to other cities to see the drastic difference between those that have public art and those that do not.
It is important to note that public art includes design features in functional items, which would include things such as light posts, tree grates, retaining walls, bus stops, street dividers, and many other essential components.
One’s experience is so much more enjoyable when you can look at and use a unique, one of a kind art bench, rather than a standard stock bench.
To visit a place that is totally devoid of any art or any designs is to see a boring, non-stimulating, sterile place.
In Kelowna, there used to be an annual tussle about how much money should be allocated to public art. It was often the first thing reduced, or even eliminated in lean budget years. Why do you think public art programs sometime gets that sort of treatment?
Many people do not realize the important role that public art plays in our cities, and therefore, focus on other basics such as potholes or sidewalks. Although all of those functional aspects of a municipality are important, the work of local government should not end there because we as humans are more complex than a smooth ride to work. We need to think, respond emotionally, consider tough issues, be delighted, made to laugh, and wonder about things.
Public art can provide that extra layer to our communities that enables everyone to experience more than the mundane and routine, but rather to be engaged and enriched. This is a proactive approach to human well being.
Public art will sometimes have reduced budgets or a lesser profile partly because not everyone understands the role it plays in our lives. Some people have limited experiences with the arts, and therefore, their demands to local government focus on needs, such as transportation or street lights, and do not include the arts. We should strive for communities that are balanced with all areas of human need being taken care of.
Some people do not think about the long term benefits to our lives and our cities that are made possible by the arts. Experiences with the arts provide proactive or preventative outcomes in the area of social problems. Some studies have shown that more money spent regularly to support the arts results in much less money needed to solve problems later.
COURIER: How important is September’s ArtWalk, a celebration and sale of artwork, to Lake Country?
McCOUBREY: ArtWalk is vitally important to Lake Country because it offers a large, high-quality cultural event; it draws visitors to this municipality from locations well beyond the Okanagan Valley; it supports artists locally; it provides arts based experiences for everyone, not only those who consider themselves part of the art world; it makes a great economic contribution to the community; it enables many citizens to become part of their community; it contributes to the identity of Lake Country; and it is so much fun, the enjoyment factor is high. Lake Country is still a relatively young municipality, and ArtWalk has significantly contributed to its identity.
COURIER: Do you think the public could play a bigger role in the selection of public art projects, or should the decision on commissions always be made by a panel of experts?
McCOUBREY:There is a time for each approach. Sometimes, it would be appropriate to involve the public in the selection of a public art project. The interesting thing about this approach is that it would not result in a greater approval of the final choice because it still comes down to the fact that some people like a certain style of art while others would have chosen a different artwork. A positive outcome of having a public selection is that the process requires citizens to consider and think about the options, and it would likely generate some interesting discussions.
At times, it is more appropriate for a qualified panel of experts to make the selection of a public art project because they are educated in the realm of aesthetics and options of public art. They would also have the responsibility to consider many factors when making a selection, including aesthetics, variety of styles, balance of types of artwork within the municipality, safety, engagement potential, range of art forms already in existence, permanence of materials, and reputation of the artist.
COURIER: That's the best, and the worst, piece of public art in Lake Country?
McCOUBREY: The great thing about public art is that it is public, which is also its challenge. We all have different opinions and preferences. There is no denying that there is a high degree of subjectivity when considering public art. For these reasons, I cannot rank the public artworks in terms of best and worst, but I do think about them in terms of how much they draw my attention, how they alter the space they are in, how the artist created them, and how much enjoyment they offer me.
This subjectivity is also true for the music we choose to listen to or the food we like to eat. I would not like to live in a community in which every single restaurant offered the same cuisine. We need variety in order to address our varied preferences and interests. Our cities need to include a wide range of public art with varying styles and forms.
If some of the artworks seem to be pushing the edge, are innovative, and maybe controversial, this will ensure that the public extends their experiences and education about what art is or could be, and the role it plays in our communities.