Some new art pieces by Paul Reimer are headed to Bud Miller All Seasons Park following a city council decision.
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At its June 8 regular meeting, council authorized the transfer of $72,000 from the public art capital reserve to fund the project and enter into an agreement with the artist. The installations will include a metal tree and two metal and stone benches.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson spoke about the meaning behind each piece, beginning with the tree.
“The artist shared (that) those natural elements of the poplar trees are meant to shape our celebration around how important nature is in our community,” she said. “It also showed the symbolism of how people can achieve more when they work together.”
Moving to the “wind bench,” she explained the prairie-themed design.
“This is a characteristic of prairie life, which for us, we all know how this wind either gets in our way … or we’re flying a kite the other (day),” Charles Gustafson said. “It is meant to be a symbol of the wind that carries seeds that become part of our landscape.”
She concluded with the “water bench,” which depicts the role of water on the prairies.
“It celebrates the essential role of water in sustaining life on the prairies,” she said, noting its location will offer a place “where you could reflect on what that means to you.”
She added that having public art around the community is vital.
“The overall idea is we think it’s important for our community to have things that are aesthetically pleasing, that bring people together and that tell a story,” Charles Gustafson said.
Coun. Jim Taylor, who serves on the Public Art Advisory Committee, spoke about the challenges of selecting public art, noting it wasn’t a matter of just picking something “off the shelf.”
“I think the one thing that is hard to encapsulate … is the process of the opinions of the people and what the committee did,” Taylor said.
“I encourage people to ask questions, whether they’re for or against it,” he added. “I’ve had just as many people reach out about public art that are for expression … and that it’s nice to not just buy another cookie-cutter bench out of a catalogue and put it out in Bud Miller.”
Coun. David Lopez recalled a recent weekend interaction at Home Depot with a prominent local business owner who emphasized Reimer’s regional draw.
“He (said), ‘Do you understand people travel all over Western Canada looking for this artist and coming into the community to see the art?'” Lopez said. “People are coming to the community to find this art and I didn’t understand that. It’s art that people are looking for.”
Lopez added that the city aims to offer something for everyone.
“As a community, we have to be (an) equal opportunity for everyone,” he said. “So the people that like the arts get some of the arts, people that like golf, we have a golf course, people that like hockey, we have the arena. We have these things for everybody so everyone in the community can appreciate it.”
The public art committee is still exploring options to display the background of the pieces.
“Some possible options would be a plaque, on-site signage or linking the artwork to a brochure or a digital platform where you could find more information about it on your phone,” said Natalie Clysdale, manager of the Lloydminster Museum and Archives.
Installation is scheduled to take place during the Bioclean Aquatic Centre shutdown in the fall of 2026.
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