Electoral Area B Director Bob Fleming, Electoral Area C Director Amanda Shatzko, and artist Tyler Welfing of CarveWel Creations gathered at Cools Pond on June 7 to celebrate the installation of a new functional sculpture. Cools Pond is a beautiful, environmentally sensitive space in the BX area that is home to waterfowl and Western Painted Turtles. In 2021, the RDNO and the Arts Council of the North Okanagan invited artists to submit proposals for public art to enhance the area.
The proposals were evaluated by a diverse panel of artists, and along with skill-related qualifications, there was a strong desire to select artwork that reflected the natural environment of the site. After reviewing the proposals and deliberating, the panel awarded the contract to pro chainsaw carver, Tyler Welfing.
Welfing created a two-winged bench out of western red cedar with turtles on one end, a duck at the other, and two herons at the center. The bench faces the pond that houses the same wildlife, and now offers parkgoers a unique spot to rest and take in the sights and sounds of Cools Pond.