Back to SearchA new public art piece called, Dwelling has been installed on Plains Road in the median near the intersection of Plains Road and Francis Road. The art was created by artist Xiaojing Yan.
A community jury made up of residents, local artists and business owners met to review artist applications for the project. The jury selected Yan’s proposal from three artists’ preliminary concepts, which were displayed for public feedback in the summer. Nearly 220 residents provided comments of the proposals. These comments, along with a technical design review, helped guide the jury’s decision-making process.
About the artwork
Dwelling has six house shapes in different sizes made of stainless steel. It can be appreciated at many vantage points. The artwork creates a marker for the community and a sense of identity and belonging.
A house creates a sense of place, belonging and home. The notion of home relates to places of memory, family history, social comment and environmental issues. It is through relationships and experiences that a house becomes a home.
The house image has been turned into a greenhouse to honour the Royal Botanical Gardens. This represents health, physical activity and recreation. It also suggests an evolving social metaphor of sustainability and self-sufficiency.
About the artist
Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese Canadian artist who lives and works in Markham, Ont. She received a Masters in Fine Arts for Sculpture from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Nanjing Arts Institution in China.
Yan’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums internationally. Her work has been included in many private and public collections. She is also a recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a project grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Chalmers Arts Fellowship and Mid-career Grant from Ontario Arts Council.
For more information, visit burlingtonpublicart.com.
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Quotes
Mayor Meed Ward
“This is amazing! It’s always a win-win for the City of Burlington when we work with artists to make our streets and communities more beautiful with public art. The artist gets to showcase their amazing work and the city gets wonderful public art that can be enjoyed by everyone. We always look forward to working with more talented artists on future projects.”
Heather MacDonald, Director of City Building – Planning, Building and Culture
“The theme of home, belonging and sustainability this artwork showcases and its beauty is a great addition to the Plains Road Corridor.”
Xiaojing Yan, artist
““Dwelling” is intended to engage people on the level of their own lived experience and inspire consideration of self among society. I designed this work to be simple and familiar on the surface. However, its meanings are layered and fresh enough to sustain. I believe the house concept is open, generous and relevant enough to be accessible to people of many different classes and cultures, to invite and involve a variety interpretations and tastes.”
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