Artist chosen for public display

An Airdrie utility box will soon be getting a facelift.

Internationally recognized local artist Veronica Funk will be starting on the box, located at the corner of First Avenue and Main Street, on Sept. 4.

“As a longtime resident of Airdrie, I really do feel honoured to be able to contribute to our community in this way and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for public art in our city,” said Funk.

“I have been inspired by the history of this area and in particular the distant past, the strength of the aboriginal people whose artifacts are in abundance at Nose Creek Museum and of the beauty of Nose Creek itself and hope to share that feeling in this work.”

Funk’s vibrantly coloured submission depicts First Nations imagery such as animals and arrowheads. The artwork also references Nose Creek.

Three artists provided submissions for the public art project, which was funded by Awesome Airdrie after the project’s originator, Sherry Shaw-Froggatt, gave a presentation to the judges in March.

The $1,000 reward will be divided, with $600 going for materials and $400 being given to Funk as an honourarium for her work.

Funk will begin work on the project in the middle of September, with hopes of completing it in time for ARTember celebrations, which will wrap up at the end of September.

Shaw-Froggatt said she is hoping to raise money to fund more utility boxes projects around the city. There are 27 more utility boxes on City property in Airdrie.

See related story on page 10.