After months of waiting, the winner of the Preston Street public art competition has been decided.
A creation by Wakefield artist c.j. fleury — one of five finalists whose proposed works were featured in a public showing on Nov. 25 — has been chosen by a panel of judges, with input from the general public. Fleury emerged as the community's top choice after a competition that began with 23 entrants in the summer before the five finalists were named earlier this fall.
Fleury’s idea is to build 15 columns that will be covered in text taken from stories of those in the community. Her art will line Preston Street, home of Ottawa’s Little Italy and many well established restaurants and businesses.
Residents of the area were able to express their opinions on submission at the Nov. 25 open house, where contestants displayed their proposals at the St. Anthony Italia Soccer Club.
Fleury will receive a $185,000 commission from the city to complete her project, part of Ottawa’s $30-million municipal infrastructure project.
The fact that Preston Street is being given a major facelift is one of reasons it was chosen for the public art contest, says Karen Nesbitt, the City of Ottawa cultural planner who coordinated the competition.
“Preston Street is ideal because the whole street is being redone,” she said. “It’s a publicly acceptable site and a main street in Ottawa that is very pedestrian friendly.”