Millions of bison roamed the Prairies centuries ago, and while few remain today, a new sculpture by a well-known community artist aims to honour the animals and their contributions.
During its July 10 regular meeting, city council voted unanimously to approve the metal bison sculpture’s installation at the Tourism Moose Jaw office, authorize city administration to sign an artist’s agreement with Bill Keen for the acquisition and installation of the artwork, and authorize the mayor and city clerk to sign the agreement.
City hall will install the artwork by late August; the location will be east of the tourism office or southeast of Mac the Moose.
Keen approached city hall in 2021 about fabricating and installing a life-sized steel bison sculpture to enrich public spaces and highlight the land’s heritage, a council report explained. In June 2022, he presented the project to the public art committee and offered to donate his labour while a contractor would install the artwork for free.
The artist estimated that the 800-pound metal sculpture’s value was more than $50,000.
This past March, the public art committee held several engagement sessions with community groups — including Aboriginal and Metis organizations — to discuss locations, the report said.
The participants discussed the pros and cons of several places, including the tourism centre, Crescent Park, Blackfoot Bridge, Kiwanis Pavilion, and “The Turn” in Wakamow Valley. They liked the bridge and tourism centre spots, while they also liked incorporating native plants around the sculpture.
Derek Blais, the director of parks and recreation, met with Keen in mid-April to review the feedback, and after considering the options, the artist thought the Tourism Moose Jaw site was best because:
- It’s a high-traffic area that could promote more tourism
- It’s city-owned property
- The sculpture would eventually be surrounded by native plants and possibly a Red River cart
- There’s less opportunity for vandalism
Keen plans to help city hall install the sculpture, while the municipality will landscape the area with native plants and create a small pathway to connect to the existing trails network, said the report.
Furthermore, the public art committee will work with Keen, historians and knowledge keepers to create an interpretive plaque highlighting the history of the bison in the area. The city will also install a separate plaque recognizing Keen’s contributions.
During the council meeting, Coun. Heather Eby — the rep on the committee — praised Blais for his behind-the-scenes activities working with the committee on this project, including meeting with community groups and helping determine where to put the artwork.
“The committee is paying $8,295 for this sculpture, but we have been told that it is really worth between $70,000 and $100,000, and it is absolutely incredible,” she continued. “It is a life-sized metal sculpture of a bison, and it is going to be a great addition to the Tourism Moose Jaw site.
“We’re excited to get it installed, and Mr. Keen is very excited to get it out of his possession and into the possession of the City of Moose Jaw.”
Other business
The public art committee discussed other topics during its mid-June meeting.
The group donated $2,217.87 to the Project 104 High School Arts Collective’s anti-graffiti team to help the latter complete a mural project at 35 Ominica Street West.
The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery has several steel sculptures in storage and is looking for locations for them. One place could be the Yvette Moore Gallery yard.
Discussions about re-locating the “Stormin’ Main Street” mural from 44 Fairford Street West are ongoing, with the artwork possibly being re-painted on vinyl.
The Downtown Moose Jaw Association is finalizing a location to install a Ukrainian sculpture that Keen created.
The committee plans to contact a Chinese group about where to possibly re-locate a Chinese mural that was on the west wall of the Gina Jewelry building on High Street West.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 24.
