A monumental metal sculpture, signed by Franco-Ontarian artist Luc Després, now sits at the entrance to Cascades Park in Thunder Bay.
Commissioned by the Nature Conservation Office of the Region of Lakeheadthe work not only serves as an entrance sign, but also stands as a public art installation.
It’s three-dimensional, like a [livre en relief] which opens.
The relief book proposed by Luc Després is not made of paper, but rather of metal parts, notably copper and stainless steel, and weighs, according to his estimates, between 160 and 260 kg.
End of Instagram widget. Return to start of widget?
I cut the parts, I shape them, I weld them, we polish them then we bang the metal
he explains.
However, despite the character monumental
, grandiose
et grand
of the work, it’s very soft and it reflects a little bit the atmosphere of the waterfalls and […] this calm, quiet side of the place
philosopher Sébastien Hardy, who frequents the park daily.
Open in full screen mode
All parts were powder coated before being assembled and welded together. The work measures approximately two meters high, three meters wide and one meter deep.
Photo: - / Céline Marti
Those familiar with Cascades Park will recognize the key elements of the park, notably the smoother rock surfaces, polished by glaciers, and the river in which an isolated pillar of rock stands right in the middle.
Natural elements to which Mr. Després explains having breathed life by polishing, heating and forcing the patinas on the surface of the metals.
It’s absolutely magnificent! This is another great work by Luc Després!
Mr. Després adds that the work reproduces nature, but also interacts with it by changing depending on the weather or the time at which it is admired; the colors reflect differently depending on the positioning of the sun.
The oranges and reds will be reflected in the trees, on the rocks and in the water […]like it does at the waterfalls!
Even cloudy or rainy days give a completely different dynamic to the room, he rejoices.
With the first snows, snow was deposited on the work; we had the impression that it was completely natural, that the snow was part of the decor
relate M. Hardy.
Open in full screen mode
Luc Després, a welder and self-taught artist from Hearst, has been based in Thunder Bay for several years and is passionate about creating metal sculptures.
Photo: - / Céline Marti
A fruitful collaboration
For Ryan Mackett, director of communications for the Regional Conservation Authority Lakeheadit was obvious to call on Luc Després, the latter having designed the entrance sign for another of his parks, the conservation area of Mission Island Marsh.
We wanted to offer this chance to a local artist whose art shines, literally and figuratively speaking.
You have to see it in person to see how magnificent this work is!
exclaims the communications director.
It was Luc’s vision that took shape
confirms Mr. Mackett, who specifies that Mr. Després was only instructed to include the logo, the name of the conservation area and an element that represents it.
Open in full screen mode
Luc Després created the sketch for the sculpture inspired by photos taken at Parc des Cascades.
Photo: - / Céline Marti
Mr. Mackett hopes to see this collaboration flourish and would like to thank Luc Després for his work.
We’ve set the tone for what we’d like to see for these panels in the future and I think Luc’s aesthetic will keep us moving forward.
in this sense, he said.
He concludes by wishing see Luc’s work appear in other places
and invites people to come and see the sculptural work while enjoying the Cascades Park conservation area.
As for Mr. Hardy, he is delighted to have a work by Luc Després very close to home, he who just wanted to obtain one.
