Oak Bay residents were treated to ten sculptures on display with the Arts Alive Annual Sculptural Exhibition, organized by Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture. Through a vote, the community has picked this year’s “People’s Choice.”

The winner of the People’s Choice award is ‘In-Den-Tation,’ by local artist Scott Gillies, The statue is sponsored by Mike and Rebecca Miller and is currently located on the corner of Oak Bay and Monterey Avenue. The statue is a whimsical work that explores the 2023 theme, “What is Home?,” encouraging viewers to peek within a fox’s den.

“In this depiction of home, a family of foxes enjoys a sunny afternoon at the mouth of their den,” says artist Scott Gillies. "By anthropomorphizing animal’s homes, it might help us to have more empathy for them and encourage us to do a better job of sharing the world with them.”

Runners up in the People’s Choice vote were ‘Horaltic Pose – Cormorant,’ by Erick James, sponsored by REMAX and ‘Shelter,’ created by Peter Vogelaar, sponsored by Oak Bay Tourism. 

Votes were collected online this year between August and November. Through a public call to artists, ten installations were selected by an Arts Alive volunteer jury. The sculptures will remain on display outdoors in the community until April 2024. Walking/cycling maps are available at Oak Bay Recreation Centres and on the Arts Alive webpage. The map encourages residents to explore the district to view the sculptures, which are available for private purchase. 

The theme for Arts Alive 2024/2025 is “Beyond the Surface.” Artists are invited to submit proposals for works of art that creatively and powerfully address the theme through various media. Information and applications are available through Oak Bay Recreation’s website. New sponsors are welcome to support the Arts Alive program. 

Barbara Adams, Oak Bay’s former Arts Laureate, is the visionary behind the Arts Alive program, including this annual program and the painted pianos on display throughout Oak Bay during summer. The Community Arts Volunteer Team is working with the municipality to make Oak Bay a destination for arts and culture. Opportunities to volunteer are available to the public. 

For more details on Arts Alive, visit: oakbay.ca/parks-recreation/arts-culture/arts-alive
For a 2024 Artist Application, visit: oakbay.ca/parks-recreation/arts-culture/arts-alive/call-artists-application

Oak Bay’s 2023 Arts Alive public art program is made possible by sponsorship from the following local businesses:

• Oak Bay Pharmasave
• Marc Owen-Flood Personal Real Estate Corporation | Newport Realty Ltd 
• Oak Bay Marine Group 
• Vis-à-Vis 
• Oak Bay Tourism 
• Mike and Rebecca Miller 
• Pemberton Holmes Oak Bay  
• REMAX 
• Barclay’s Fine Jewellers (1/2 sponsor)
• The Zieglers (1/2 sponsor)
• Prestige Picture Framing Etcetera (1/2 sponsor)
• Oak Bay Parks, Recreation & Culture (1/2 sponsor)
• Oak Bay Bicycles (1/2 sponsor)