Chilliwack – The Evans Roundabout is about to become the first roundabout in Chilliwack to feature a public art piece. In 2017, the Chilliwack Public Art Advisory Committee selected ‘Giant Flowers’ by artist Ronald Simmer for installation at the Evans Roundabout to enrich the visual environment of the community.
The piece will feature an arrangement of five 25 foot tall multi-coloured flowers. Each flower will feature ten petals, painted in a broad array of bright colours. The flower stalks will be illuminated at night by ground-based floodlights and each flower head will be lit with LED lights.
Roundabout design requires that the driver’s view across the centre of the circle be blocked, either by plantings or manmade structures. There are many examples in our region where art, or manmade landscape features have been used to improve the aesthetics of the neighbourhood. The design requirement to block the driver’s view across the roundabout is necessary and required for safe roundabout operation.
The City of Chilliwack supports public art with the Chilliwack Public Art Policy. In order for a public art piece to be considered, an application must be submitted to the City and reviewed by the Chilliwack Public Art Advisory Committee. The Chilliwack Public Art Advisory Committee consists of community members who volunteer their time to provide City Council with a recommendation in line with the Chilliwack Public Art Policy in an area in which they are knowledgeable. After the committee makes its selection, a recommendation is brought before City Council, who approves all public art pieces.
