Sol Art Projects

Roxana Adams
Volunteer Coordinator
‘SOL’ Art in the Community Gardens
The ‘SOL’ Art in the Community Gardens began as a means of attracting passersby into the Community Gardens. The word ‘SOL’ is spanish for sun, and it is a little play on words with the english word ‘soul’. The connection being the ‘sun’ (SOL) feeds our plants to grow and we in turn are fed with the produce. Then, in using the same sounding word, ‘SOUL’ in english, there is a saying that goes: Art feeds the soul!
The Central Okanagan Foundation supported the Winfield, Michaelbrook and Parkinson Recreation community garden art work projects with grants, while the City of Kelowna Public Art Committee funded  the St. Paul Garden project.

To see a more detailed list of contributors to the Sol Art Projects, visit Acknowledgements.

THE WORKING KARAT
Winfield 2010OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
The first ‘SOL’ Art COF grant money was allotted to Winfield Community Garden. The sculpture is a carrot made of rough steel, with the inside of the carrot filled with old gardening tools, gifted by residents of Lake Country. You will notice that some of the tools have been given eyes made of old washers. The art piece is called ‘The Working Karat’. Our diamond in the rough was made by Ed Goodon, Metal Dream Designs, Vernon. The cement base was covered with rocks stencilled by the clients of the Kelowna District Society for Community Living, who are also avid gardeners at the Winfield Garden.
THE LIVELY TRIO
Michaelbrook 2012Michaelbrook sculpture u0026amp; students2012 003
The second ‘SOL’ Art project is located at the Michaelbrook Garden. The art sculpture here is 3 vegetables(a tomato, carrot and pea pod intertwined). Being a very colourfully painted art sculpture, it is thus called,’ The Lively Trio’. Ed Goodon was also commissioned for this sculpture because he presented a well-related garden sculpture. The Grades 7 – 9 Visual Arts students from the French school l’Anse-au-sable, designed and installed the base of colourful tiles.
FARMER IN THE DELL
Parkinson Recreation Centre 2014

PRC sculpture 2a

August 2014, saw the official ribbon cutting ceremony, with ‘gardening clippers’ in hand by Mayor Walter Gray for the whimsical weathervane “Farmer in the Dell”. Blacksmith artist, Doug Alcock’s completed the art piece in November 2013, while the beautifully created mandala-style metal base was added the following summer. Collaborating with Doug Alcock and community artist Donna Lee (My Studio), Lucas Glenn, a UBCO graduate (Lucas Glenn Co) created the final design showing an amazing wind swept scene you have to see to enjoy! The majestic weathervane is located between the entranceways of the Seniors’ Activity Centre and the PRC, with the PRC Community Garden in the background. Many thanks to Trevor of Altar Metal for his gracious contribution in water-etching the mandala metal base and to OK Ready Mix with their continual support of cement for our ‘SOL’ Art Structures.
GAUDI IN THE GARDEN
St. Paul 2014
2014-07-17 15.03.30
Later in September 2014, during Kelowna’s Cultural Days, the Cool Arts Society organized the official unveiling of ‘Gaudi in the Gardens’ at St. Paul’s Community Garden. The garden’s walls facing St. Paul Street now have beautiful colour and mosaic designs that include insects and flowers. Sara Lige, President of the Cool Arts Society came up with the Antonin Gaudi idea, Rena Warren, Executive Director of Cool Arts oversaw the Project and Lake Country ‘Gaudi in the Garden’ Lead Artist, Wanda Lock made the preparations and directed the effort! The Pathway artists’ enthusiasm throughout this project was inspiring to watch! From the drawings of garden insects and other garden designs, to their enthusiastic breaking of the many kindly donated dishes, cups and pottery items, and to the final application and sealing! Thank you so much Team ‘Cool Arts’!
GAUDI IN THE GARDEN II
St. Paul 2015

2015-09-26 12.44.56 Gaudi II group

This year brought an exciting extension of the tile art at St. Paul Community Garden. ‘Cool Art’ Society, their art clients and volunteers worked throughout the summer, completing the final touches to ‘Gaudi in the Garden’ Phase II during Kelowna’s 2015 September Cultural Days. Huge thanks go to the City of Kelowna, who provided grants for Phase I and Phase II through the City’s Community Public Art grant programme. Also, our continued gratitude to Butler Tile (Kelowna) and Home Depot for helping with materials needed for the ‘Gaudi in the Garden’ project. ‘Cool’ Art’ Society’s Executive Director, Rena Warren organized all aspects of the ‘Gaudi’ tile art projects – securing the funding through the grant application, contracting artist Wanda Lock for her expert advice and direction, acquiring all materials needed, and the organization and scheduling of ‘Cool Art’ Society’s clients, their guides and volunteers to participate. Thank you to you all for your enthusiasm you brought to St. Paul Community Garden’s, ‘Gaudi in the Garden’! It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to be involved with ‘Cool Art’ Society and the City of Kelowna can be so proud of all their endeavors.
Roxana Adams,
‘SOL’ Art in the Community Gardens Volunteer Coordinator
SOLart BIKE RACK 
Towne Centre 2017
Many thanks to Ralf Kauth, Parks Foreman, District of West Kelowna *(shown in photo) and Stacey Harding, Parks; Fleet Manager, District of West Kelowna for getting the bike rack ordered, cement pad organized and the install of this 2nd ‘SOLart’ Bike Rack project with unending enthusiasm and support. Especially because this was done around all the District’s dealings with the Spring of ‘flooding’.
Also in the photo are Christina, Towne Centre Garden Coordinator, her son, Cameron …aka ‘Spiderman’  Cameron’s Grandma, Janine Smith  from Ontario, Christina’s friend Cassandra and her children Ava, Gunnar, Nathalie, Garden Coordinator Shannon Woods and Drs. Tainsh Family from Inverness, Scotland who just happened to come along to join the fun.