Wolfville’s wood could make public art

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

Wolfville sculptor Nistal Prem de Boer started carving the elm tree stump in front of his home on Main St. in January

He invited a few friends, accomplished chainsaw operators, to rough out his design. The project, now oiled, awaits spring, when, after a prolonged period of drying, it can be completed.

The subject of the sculpture, sustainability, is certainly topical. De Boer says his theme is represented by a Moebius-inspired form. It might look like a Celtic knot but, for him, the wood depicts an energy flow coming from and returning to the earth after a recycling dance.

A large chainsaw was provided for the day by Mahar’s in Wolfville. Photographer Arthur Grebneff and videographer Kim Smith were on-site to document the process.

“I hope any tree that is going to be cut down will be considered for sculpture,” says de Boer. “I’ve been talking to the economic development committee and I would like it to be a feature in Wolfville. This is very possible.”

He believes the trunks of two 100-year-old trees should not simply be thrown away. While he hasn’t experimented a great deal with elm wood, de Boer likes the different planes he’s uncovered.

“The shape is about sustainability, and that’s our ambition in Wolfville.”

Sculpture has always been a fascination. De Boer has created a number of terra cotta sculptures and works in bronze and bronze relief. He has pieces at Harvest Gallery in Wolfville and the winery in Grand Pre. He plans to show more next month at the Women of Wolfville production.

Born in Amsterdam, de Boer immigrated to Canada after finishing a degree in architecture and engineering at the Technical University of Delft. In Montreal, he worked at several architectural offices. In 1976, he moved to Nova Scotia and started work as an independent architect. He was involved with the retrofit of the Cornwallis Inn in Kentville, but his work shifted to solar housing. He continues to be interested in technology, innovative design and processes. One of his dreams would be using Charles Macdonald’s sculptural cottages in Huntington Point as a springboard for new sculptural construction.

An artistic downtown?

February 18, Wolfville council will vote on a program that could see the installation of more public art.

The annual plan would pay a chosen artist $5,000, encouraging public art in Wolfville.

The committee will work with the Alliance of Kings Artists and review other programs as the project continues.

When “outed” in 2005, Terry Drahos, Nicole Evans and Pat Farrell - Wolfville’s trio of mysterious twig sculptors - recommended council look at installing public art.