Okotoks students were surprised with phone calls last week telling them their artwork would be put on display in Town parks.
Students from Foothills Composite High School and Alberta High School of Fine Arts entered proposed designs for five outdoor washrooms in Okotoks parks, a second phase of the beautification project that began in 2018.
There were 23 submissions entered into The Potty Project: Number Two, and after public voting five finalists were announced: Bridget Tait, Desirae Quinn, Ayana Patterson, Sen Smith and Tasha Walther.
“At first it was a bit of a shock, but now it’s sinking in and I’m super excited,” said Tait. “I have something to leave part of me behind in the community because I will be going away for school, and I can also show my artwork off in town.”
Though she is completing her first year of university online from home, Tait will be attending Memorial School of Newfoundland in-person this fall as she works toward a combined bachelor of arts in English and sociology.
Her design, Bee Part of the Community, is reminiscent of a beehive complete with honey dripping from windows and a few bees scattered around the honeycomb.
The fuzzy creatures have always intrigued Tait, whose nickname is also “Bee.”
She said the way bees work together spoke to her as well.
“When the contest opened up I just thought it’s great to incorporate nature into my design as well as the community elements that bees are well known for,” said Tait.
For Quinn, who is attending college in Red Deer to pursue her bachelor of fine arts and become a comic artist, it was the second time one of her designs had been chosen.
Her sunset and mountains currently adorn the walls of the pubic washroom in Sheep River Park, next to the playground.
For Potty Project: Number Two, Quinn submitted Nightscape, featuring a midnight sky and northern lights.
“I didn’t think I would make it in this year, but I was really glad to see I’d won again,” Quinn.
The piece was the her way of giving passersby a glimpse of a scene they don’t typically get to see in Okotoks.
“I really liked the idea of fantastical places that you can’t really see in your everyday life,” said Quinn. “Being able to have a little piece of that on a path, when you’re passing by, and seeing something you might never get to see – I think that’s fun.”
She said it’s rewarding and encouraging as a fine arts student to have her designs chosen in both phases of the project.
“I feel pretty accomplished, because having a public work of art is a pretty big honour for an artist, so having two before I’m 19 is a pretty big deal,” said Quinn. “I’m very proud of it.”
Allan Boss, manager of culture and heritage for the Town of Okotoks, said with the five final designs chosen, the next step is up to the public.
“Rather than us deciding which mural goes where, we want our community to tell us that,” said Boss. “Which design fits which washroom, which park?”
The five available locations are Cimarron Park (on Cimarron Drive), the BMX park, Tower Hill Park, Laudan Park, and the dog park.
He said the designs and park locations are available on the Town’s website for voting until March 11 at 4 p.m.
To cast your vote, visit www.okotoks.ca and click on Have Your Say.
