Join us for the unveiling of Nathan Lee’s Welcome to the Zoo, a public artwork recently installed at the Sportsplex in Queen’s Park, New Westminster. Come share in a discussion about the art, the public art process and the history behind the concept. Our speakers include: artist Nathan Lee, Eryne Donahue, past chair of the Public Art Advisory Committee and Oana Capota, curator at the New Westminster Museum. This engaging conversation will give you a glimpse of the themes, public art context in New Westminster and what this artwork tells us about the unique cultural moment in which we find ourselves today.

Link for direct log-in to the Zoom meeting: https://bit.ly/3wSOwCP

Please note this event will be recorded

The Arts Council of New Westminster recognizes the financial support from Steel and Oak Brewing, Patterson Brands, and Save-The-W.ca

Panellists:

About Nathan Lee

Nathan Lee was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. He has taken a broad approach to traditional art and design disciplines, applying his formal training in landscape architecture to a career in public art and designed objects. Nathan brings over a decade and a half of design and fabrication experience to each new project. His diverse portfolio and hands-on approach has allowed him to explore a broad range of subject matters from boatbuilding to beekeeping. As a craftsman, he has shaped wood, molded concrete, and engineered paper. His whimsical approach to site-specific installations has been well received by municipalities including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, NorthVancouver, NewWestminster, and Port Moody, all of which have awarded him commissions. He has also exhibited work at nationally recognized venues such as the Royal Ontario Museum, The Museum of Vancouver, and the Design Exchange.

Nathan graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Landscape Architecture program in 2000. In 2004, He co-founded the award-winning firm, Contexture Design. His playful works in public art and industrial design examined reclaimed materials and explored innovative fabrication processes. In early 2016, Nathan joined Hapa Collaborative Landscape Architecture to lead ‘Hapa Lab’ – an experimental public art and design initiative within the firm. During his time at Hapa, Nathan successfully led and executed several public installations including the Megaphone, The Apiary Almanac, and the mural at Rochester Park. While at Hapa he also contributed design expertise and project managed traditional landscape architecture projects. In 2017 Nathan returned to his independent work as Contexture Design, continuing his playful exploration of history, place, and materials through public art. He is currently expanding his practice to include exhibit design as a co-curator of an upcoming exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver.

About Eryne Donahue

Eryne Donahue is a Visual Artist and community member. She has been a member of the Public Art Advisory Committee of New Westminster for 6 years, most recently as Chair (2020), and was also a representative of the committee on the jury for Nathan Lee’s “Welcome to the Zoo”. Eryne received a Master of Fine Arts degree from UBC, and an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Ottawa.

About Oana Capota

Oana Capota is the curator of the New Westminster Museum and has been working in the museum sector for 16 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, with a focus on Chinese language and history, from the University of British Columbia. Oana also has a diploma in Cultural Resource Management from the University of Victoria.