As you can see by the Haida totem and the Emily Carr painting below it that this is not original art.
For council to spend tax dollars on a non-aboriginal knock-off of a Haida image and put it in the heart of Nuu Chah Nulth territory is not only a waste of tax payer money but is culturally insensitive.
There are many local artists both first nations and not that are more deserving of our tax dollars.
https://tofino.civicweb.net:443/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=30045
Mayor and Council
| Name | Title | Telephone | Cell Phone | Fax | |
| Josie Osborne | Mayor | 250-725-3229 | 250-266-5229 | 250-725-3775 | osborne@tofino.ca |
| Al Anderson | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-726-5236 | 250-725-3775 | anderson@tofino.ca |
| Dorothy Baert | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-726-5565 | 250-725-3775 | baert@tofino.ca |
| Garth Cameron | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-725-3775 | cameron@tofino.ca | |
| Duncan McMaster | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-266-0065 | 250-725-3775 | mcmaster@tofino.ca |
| Cathy Thicke | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-266-1452 | 250-725-3775 | thicke@tofino.ca |
| Ray Thorogood | Councillor | 250-725-3229 | 250-266-1170 | 250-725-3775 | thorogood@tofino.ca |
25 comments:
I was glad when that thing left town years ago. Don't bring it back
What would you consider appropriate ? A statue of an unemployed logger working at a fish farm ?
At least that would be original !! Get one of the many local artists to present the idea to council ......
Has there been any budget debate about how much maintenance and upkeep costs?
Considering the poor maintenance of our signs and public buildings how does a perishable work of art fare?
does anyone understand the liability for curatorship? And who is responsible for destruction, security, vandalism?
Is this part of a long-term plan? Or did someone just dream it up?
is this how elected officials spend taxpayer money responsibly?
How does one decidedly partisan group decide what will represent tofino as public art? without any regard or consultation with any other group?
if there is acquisition of public art across North America there is normally a process well-recognized by government.
is tofino abiding by any known process in it's proposed participation in the acquisition of public art?
lets have a big one of an enviro-weenie carving in front of the DOT office
I'd say we need a fountain in the middle of a roundabout at the intersection of 1st and Campbell and in the middle of the roundabout there should be a big sculpture of and environmentally conscious Bugs Bunny standing on the backs of all the people that work for a living IE fisherman loggers builders etc. while pooping in the pristine waters of clackwhat sound. the poop could just be muddy water for effect. the theme could be "our water's full of shit"'
There should be a statue of Sandy the Mascot hugging Mr Floatie as a way of teaching tourists to be more tolerant and accepting of raw sewage
Why is it culturally insensitive to have a Haida image in Tofino? Roy Henry Vickers is Haida, we're not asking him to step aside. It's like saying that it's culturally insensitive to enjoy Poutine outside of Quebec. My comment doesn't address how ugly it is, just some thoughts on general appreciation of life's finer things like wooden carvings and soggy fries.
Roy is Tsimshian.He owns his building and pays taxes on it.
Can someone explain to me what the weeping cedar woman means to tofino the town as opposed to what it means to a special interest group?
I understand that it means something about the clayoquot protests of the early 90s which took place mainly out in the regional district somewhere.
as far as I'm concerned there's no need for the glorification of an event that basically accomplished what it set out to do which was, as I understand it, to have forestry practices changed.
to resurrect a monument at public expense on public property to pander to the narcissisism of one particular group, many of whom do not live here, represents preferential treatment and lack of foresight and perspective.
Can we please have a statue of Ralph throwing balls of poop at a fan?
This whole undertaking is simply to feed the over inflated egos of protestors.
If Tofino is going to invest in public art there should be a process to be followed.An open request for proposals would be good.Having a special interest group lobby council for funding is not a good idea.What next ? Loggers wanting a monument to Jack Munro ? Concerned citizens wanting a sculpture with Fraser,Long,Smith and Schmunk so that Tofitians never forget those dark times in our history ?
As long as it is low maintenance bronze
How about a statue of Sally Mole so people won't forget how poorly she was treated by this Council ? Voters should remember this in an election year.
Community arts, also sometimes known as "dialogical art", "community-engaged" or "community-based art," refers to artistic activity based in a community setting. Works from this genre can be of any media and is characterized by interaction or dialogue with the community. Often professional artists collaborate with people who may not otherwise normally actively engage in the arts. The term was defined in the late-1960s and spawned a movement which grew in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. In Scandinavia, the term "community art" means more often contemporary art project.
Often community art is based in economically deprived areas, with a community-oriented, grassroots approach. Members of a local community will come together to express concerns or issues through an artistic process, sometimes this may involve professional artists or actors. These communal artistic processes act as a catalyst to trigger events or changes within a community or even at a national or international level.
Does the Weeping Cedar Woman represent the community? DOT is looking for more participation from the residents so perhaps they let us vote. Put up a Survey Monkey and let the people speak. It is a bit odd that the delegation went to council asking for help to buy it with a price tag of $20,000 and afterwards The Westerly interviewed Godfrey which revealed the price was actually $30,000.
I pay a lot of taxes in this community and would prefer to see my money go towards the desperate improvements that we need. If council does approve this acquisition they are opening themselves up to expectation to buy art pieces like this from others in the future. Arguments could be made to buy work by Henry Nola, Joe Martin, Jan J or Roy Vickers because they have all created artwork that is important and tells the stories that represent this community.
My suggestion is to create bronze statues around the town (like Sidney)...we could have Tibbs, Howie McD, Dorothy Abraham and Ralph....and one day Josie. In closing if you are all this upset about this topic then stop writing crap on this blog and write your council and mayor before they meet and decide. Emails are on the DOT website.
Happy Family Day!
Tofino should buy Vargas Dan art
Seems to me that alot of citizens got together and were able to raise enough monies to put up the girdle on the tree at Eik Landing, why not raise money for the Cedar Woman instead of using our tax dollar?
Tofino District office needs some black velvet paintings. Preferably wide eyed kids looking in amazement at the Weeping Cedar Woman !
TTBS - Typical Tofino Bull*$@t!!! Decide which friend you want to get some money and then use whatever means necessary to get it. Forget protocol, forget the economics, forget the rules, forget reality. Just cut that guy a cheque. No planning, no forethought, we'll deal with any consequences later, hopefully by then the season will be in full swing and people will be too busy to care.
Over 800 protestors were arrested during the Clayoquot anti-logging activity. If this scupture is truly if historical significance surely they would contribute $40 each ? No ! They want the taxpayer of Tofino to shell out !
The environmentalists do not seem to be able to leave anything alone without shoving their own narcissistic faces into an area(here) that is evolving into a place of relative peace, harmony, and goodwill. no!, We need to be reminded of some stupid conflict that's been long dead for years.
if there was anything to be honored here I would suggest it be the young women and men who come here every year and contribute energy and goodwill. a statue of Shiva perhaps that's basically about fun.
the clayoquot protests were not about anything remotely like fun.
if the coneheads who would like the whole town's face rubbed in their stupid confrontational glory can't be satisfied with their memories at least learn to leave the rest of us in peace.
The environmentalists do not seem to be able to leave anything alone without shoving their own narcissistic faces into an area(here) that is evolving into a place of relative peace, harmony, and goodwill. no!, We need to be reminded of some stupid conflict that's been long dead for years.
if there was anything to be honored here I would suggest it be the young women and men who come here every year and contribute energy and goodwill. a statue of Shiva perhaps that's basically about fun.
the clayoquot protests were not about anything remotely like fun.
if the coneheads who would like the whole town's face rubbed in their stupid confrontational glory can't be satisfied with their memories at least learn to leave the rest of us in peace.
Suggesting that the Weeping Cedar Woman would "bring our communities together" is a joke. Delusional in fact. It's entertaining though. Just like hearing Dan Lewis say he and his new Clayoquot Action is about bringing regional peace and harmony to the local communities. Or Dorothy Baert wanting work in a positive manner with Ucluelet. Anyone that has been around since the protest days of Clayoquot Sound know who these people are and what they stand for. Their history speaks for itself. Ditto for the Weeping Cedar Woman. Why not just be upfront and honest. And what ever happened to those loggers and their families? How is eco tourism doing in Ukee? Actually, maybe the Weeping Cedar Woman should be in Ucluelet all things considered.
There is little evidence left of the 1993 protest today but it is worth taking a short walk down the boat launch on the west side of the bridge. Down by the water from that side, one can view a section of the bridge moorings that was burnt, the result of arson during 1993 when two men attempted to burn down the bridge to stop logging. It didnt work. Someone was on the watch there who smelled diesel, put the fire out, and saw the men speed off in a boat. The two were eventually caught and convicted for arson in this act of eco-terrorism.
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