Castlegar proudly holds the title of “Sculpture Capital of Canada” thanks in large part to its annual Sculpture Walk. For fifteen years, this beloved event has transformed the city into an open-air gallery, showcasing works by artists from the Kootenays and beyond. Locals and visitors are invited to stroll the streets, admire the art, and vote for their favourites. In October, the winning piece is purchased by the city to become a permanent part of its public collection.
This year’s Sculpture Walk features 30 captivating entries installed throughout the city: each one a testament to the creative talent from Castlegar, British Columbia, and as far away as Armenia. Castlegar artist Lisa Huth again has a piece in this year’s event called “Untamed.” Crafted from recycled steel, this sculpture pays homage to the wild horses of North America. For more about Lisa’s work, read our article: “Meet Metal Artist Lisa Huth.”
Another sculpture of an animal is a long-eared hare, appropriately called “Mr Longear.” It’s by Lars Baggenstos, a Swiss-trained woodcarver now living in the small West Kootenay hamlet of Ymir. Other Kootenay artists represented in this year’s event are Rabi’a from Winlaw, Aimee Philibert from Salmo, Tom and Zack Watson from Kimberley, and Olave Roaldson of Crawford Bay who is responsible for the “Mask of Odinn” cedar carving.
The sculpture that had the furthest distance to travel for this year’s show is “Serenade” by Armenian artist Gevorg Tadevosyan. He says he drew inspiration for this metal piece from a 13th century BCE statue of an Armenian goat, which symbolizes life and a horn player representing the spirit of music.
The first Castlegar Sculpture Walk was launched in 2010, with local artist Pat Field at the helm for two years before Pat Barrett took over. Pat is still the executive director and she’s happy to report that by populating the downtown core with different sculptures every year, locals and visitors alike are encouraged to stroll and discover the area.
To learn more about the annual Sculpture Walk and to download a map and a voting ballot, visit sculpturewalkcastlegar.com.