May Theme Day: Sculptures
This shot is at the request of my good friend, Emma, who sees the Secret Bench of Knowledge nearly every day when she passes the National Library & Archives of Canada on Wellington Street. But I wonder if she knows the story behind the sculpture? It turns out that sculptress Lea Vivot one early May evening in 1989, placed her bench outside the entrance of the Archives building. What makes her story unique is that it was not a government-commissioned work, but a reflection of the artist's soul purpose. Vivot felt the front of the building needed "something" and so took it upon herself to fill this visual void with her Secret Bench. The sculpture rested there for a year before Vivot took it back, promising to cast and provide another one. Four years later on May 1, 1994 she was true to her word and supplied the site with a new and improved model, that now incorporated messages from school children and writers from all over Canada. It is one of the city's most photographed sculptures.
3 comments:
The story behind this sculpture is as magnificent as the art work itself. Great post for Theme Day! Merci.
What a wonderful statue bench! I would have had my daughters pose with them!
I know that I’m late. It was a busy weekend. But let me say that I like your shot and your realization of the theme very much. It's really a nice story and a lovely statue.
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