The Muskoka Lumber Community Centre is home to the newest piece of public art in the area.
The steel sculpture of a white pine tree hangs high in the building’s main lobby and is the first thing you see when you walk through the front door.
The piece is called ‘All My Relations’ and was done by Kyle Thornley of Metal Mind Forge, who officials say is an Artist Blacksmith and a certificate welder with an extensive body of work and experience with complex structural design and fabrication.
“The art was developed to evoke a sense of community, draw inspiration from the local landscape, reflect the spirit of Muskoka, and be an iconic representation of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre,” say town officials.
Officials say the title of the sculpture was inspired by Ojibwe writer, Richard Wagamese, and reflects on the connection between everyone.
They add Mayor Rick Maloney consulted with local Indigenous leaders to share the details about the piece, with the group being supportive of having a visual tie to Indigenous art and the branch itself, which holds strong cultural significance.
Officials add Town’s Public Art Advisory Committee chose Thornley’s art after evaluating a total of 32 submissions from artists across Canada.
