Following a community-wide public survey conducted in 2021, the Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) is launching three new surveys to gather feedback and input on the future of public art from three specific groups: local artists, youth, and businesses.

Artist Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OrilliaArtists

Youth Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OrilliaYouth 

Business Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OrilliaBusiness

An Art in Public Places Plan will provide the City of Orillia with a roadmap for the funding, development and installation of public art. The Plan will be grounded in research, best practices, and local voices to ensure the priorities and strategies set out in the Plan reflect the needs and stories of Orillia. 

Key City planning processes, such as the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan, Streets for All: Streetscape Improvement Master Plan and the City of Orillia Tourism Strategic Action Plan, call for public art to play a stronger role in community and tourism development. The Art in Public Places Plan will help identify sites and funding strategies in addition to linking public art planning to future development in Orillia.

The surveys are available until November 10, 2022. Hard copies can be requested by contacting the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) at Ninette Gyorody: executivedirector@orilliamuseum.org

Over the coming months the process will look at other opportunities to engage citizens, Orillia artists and arts organizations, youth, business partners, and other stakeholders in the development of the Plan. Visit back for more information.

Do you have a public art project you would like to bring to life? We encourage you to contact staff before completing our Public Art Proposal Checklist to ensure we have all of the necessary information to assess your proposal.

Jacqueline Surette, Manager of Culture

Ph: 705-325-4530; Email: jsurette@orillia.ca

Public Art projects are subject to the City of Orillia’s Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1. and require a written proposal prior to being forwarded to Council for approval.

Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1

Papillio Planta by Robert Doan

The piece, entitled “Papillio Planta” by Robert Doan, was installed in J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Habitat Garden following an open Call to Artists in 2020 by the City of Orillia and Art in Public Places Committee and endorsed by Council on October 26, 2020. 

The Call challenged local artist to create a dynamic piece of artwork that captures the essence of the pollinator garden. Doan’s proposal was selected for the strength and compelling nature of the literal and figurative imagery within the design.

Inspired by the Call to Artists to create his own plant for the garden, the artist brings together six butterflies in flight to form a bloom.

Similar to a real plant, Doan gave the piece a Latin botanical name: Papillio, meaning butterfly, and Planta, meaning plant. It stands approximately 7ft tall in the garden and is made of cold rolled steel. The material was chosen as it will weather over time to produce the natural orange-brown patina that will help it blend into its natural surroundings.

THE ARTIST: Robert Doan is a local sculptor who has combined his education and skill as a welder, jeweller, and visual artist to create compelling works of art for private and public commissions. He works with metal to create custom decorative pieces for commercial enterprises and residential properties. He has done work for Hawk Ridge Golf & Country Club, the CIBC in Mississauga, and Protea Health Centre in Barrie.

Doan studied Material art & Design at the Ontario College of Art and Design and graduated from the welding course at Humber College. He also studied Jewellery and Metals at Georgian College – Barrie Campus and was awarded medals of academic and studio excellence. Mr. Doan taught welding at Georgian College when the Orillia Campus first opened in the 1980s.

Site drawings  

Local artist, Craig Mainprize, was commissioned by the City of Orillia and the 2020 OWG Games Organizing Committee to create a lasting impression mural for the 2020 Ontario Winter Games.

Nine artists from throughout the province answered the call to create an 8’ X 12’ mural that encapsulates the theme, ‘Inspired: The Road to Gold.’

“Craig’s unique style, bold colours and simplistic designs captured the imagination of the jury,” said Jacqueline Sock, Manager of Culture and a member of the Games Organizing Committee. That, combined with his passion for sport resulted in his selection. 

Read more…

THE ARTIST: Craig Mainprize is a multi-disciplinary artist. Primarily a visual artist, he also works as a musician, curator, and actor. His paintings are known for their vibrant colour palette and use of drawing and line work. 

Mainprize was born in 1983 in Orillia, Ontario. He holds a BFA from the University of Ottawa, specializing in painting and sculpture. His works have been exhibited at arts museums across the province and are held in private collections around the world. 

He is the recipient of the 2019 Orillia Regional Arts & Heritage Award for Emerging Artist. 

In 2019, the City of Orillia put out a call to artists to create five renderings, one for each of the five chosen themes. Prospective artists were tasked with submitting one design sample to the City. The samples were adjudicated by a panel of jurors organized by the Orillia Public Art Committee. There were five artists in total that submitted samples.

The five themes depicted on the waterfront banners were:

1. Heritage – Stephen Leacock Museum National Historic Site
2. Culture – Orillia Opera House
3. Lifestyle – Downtown Orillia
4. Recreation – Waterways and Trails
5. History – Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site

Jieun’s bold and colourful interpretation of Orillia’s cultural heritage won her the commission. Jieun is a Toronto-based artist who has exhibited paintings around the world since 2010. She immigrated to Canada in 2017 and is the co-founder of KJ Bit Collective, a group that creates murals and street art events. In 2018, Jieun was the recipient of the Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant from Toronto Arts Council.

Read more…

The City of Orillia adopted its first Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1 in 2010 to recognize and promote the value of arts and culture through the integration of artwork into public views. The objective of the policy is to establish a standard and transparent for the acquisition, consultation, selection, site selection, maintenance, deaccession, monitoring and evaluation of purchased and/or donated works of art for display in public places.

In 2018, City Council passed a resolution authorizing the Orillia Museum of Art & History to manage the City’s public art program under the direction of the Manager of Culture and an Art in Public Places Committee.

The Committee advises Council on donations and public calls for artwork originating with Council, the Committee, City staff or members at large. This page is dedicated to the work they are involved in. To stay informed, sign-up for page updates.

Committee Terms of Reference

Committee Members: 

Catherine Phillips, Chair
● Ruth Watt
● Valerie Powell
● Catherine Allman
● Mary Jo Pollak
● Anna Van Maris
● Stephen Davids
● Ninette Gyorody, OMAH staff support
● Jacqueline Surette, City of Orillia staff support