Pickering has announced that its Esplanade Park is now home to new garden and public art piece – Reflections – created by Studio F Minus.
It said the Reflections Garden is intended to reflect the impact of Covid-19 on the community and our resilience, providing a public space for reflection, wellness and gathering.
In 2018, the City of Pickering received provincial support to complete Phase 1 enhancements to Esplanade Park through the Main Street Fund. Phase 1 included the installation of several pieces of permanent public art including four sculptures by artists Geordie Lishman, ‘Spirit of Pickering’, and two sculptures by artist Ron Baird, ‘Pollinators’.
Phase 1 upgrades were installed in 2020, and included upgraded landscaping and seating in Esplanade Park. With the funding support of $255,375 from the Government of Canada, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF), the City of Pickering was able to initiate Phase 2 of this project in 2023.
In response to the pandemic, Phase 2 of the Esplanade Park project includes a Reflections Garden. This section of Esplanade Park includes sensory plantings, accessible seating, a shade structure and playable music instruments. The new permanent public art, ‘Reflections’ by Studio F Minus serves as the focal point for this space.
In their proposal Studio F Minus made the following statement: “Reflections is a highly engaging yet intimate work of public art that feels incomplete. Among an intriguing array of mirrored panels that force you to take a look at yourself from different perspectives, sits a solitary void to the open sky. The sculpture marks the lives of those we lost to Covid-19 and examines themes of loss, grief, self-reflection, and how they each require time”.
“Esplanade Park is in the heart of Pickering’s City Centre and is animated for City events and commemorations, and used daily by residents as a place to gather, unwind, and recreate,” said Mayor Kevin Ashe. “Vibrant, sustainable, and accessible public spaces are critical towards building a strong and connected community. The innovative, and tranquil addition of the Reflections Garden to Esplanade Park will become a preferred destination for our residents and visitors seeking reflection, inspiration, and serenity.”