Sussex sculptor's Resurgo will rise outside new Moncton plaza

Sussex artist Peter Powning's proposal for a sculpture that pays tribute to Moncton's resiliency has been chosen to grace the city's new downtown plaza.

Moncton council approved Powning'spiece Resurgoafter itwas recommended by the selection committee for thedowntown centre public art competition.

The installationwill cost the cityabout $181,000.

The burnished stainless steel piece, a tree reaching about 6.7 metres high, upthrough the letters that form Resurgo, will sit near the plaza, at the corner of Main Street andHighfieldstreets.

"It's visually and historically relevant," Powningtold city councilors Monday night.

Resurgo,Moncton'sLatin motto, means"I rise again."

Powningsaid the pieceacts as an "apt motto for the Acadian population that has reinserted its vital presence andcontribution to the community."

But the sculpture "serves all language groups equally," he said.

The tree is a powerful symbolfor Moncton, "for both the unity and the complexity of the community," Powning said.

"Like a deep-rooted tree, the city grows and thrives despite loss and change. It is to this resiliencythat I have created [it], with its frieze of the many branches. I wanted the sculpture to have a sense of play, dancing letters in the process of reorganizing."

The sculpture "isa state of unlikely balance that gives it a feel ofmovement," he said.

"I wanted it to work on many levels, to mean different things to different people."

Concerns over name

Powning said the city wants the piece to be a symbol and landmark for the community, butCoun. Robert McKeeraised the possibility of confusion, with the name Resurgo attached to the downtown plaza as well as the home of the Moncton Museum.

"Is there any concern that there'd be confusion with Resurgo Place and the museum and having the name in suchbig letters here attached tothis facility as well?" McKee asked.

Catherine Dallaire, generalmanager of parks and leisure, culture and heritage, suggested the selection committee discussed the name and overcame any concerns.

"It does provide an opportunity for us to see and be reminded of our motto in different places of thecommunity," Dallairesaid. "There will be communications that go along with this.

"The committee really did feel that having the word Resurgois bigger inmany ways than ResurgoPlace. It really is bigger than a public art piece. It is our city's motto."

There were nine proposals for the art project, and Powning was chosen from among four finalists. The others were Guylaine Cyr, Andr Lapointeand Luc A. Charette.