March 20, 2018, marked the unveiling of alumna Pippa Lattey’s art installation, The Gestures of Birds, which won the fourth annual First Capital Realty Public Sculpture Competition. Pippa, who received her BFA in 2016, is a sculpture artist concerned with movement and perception. Her winning installation was created using fiberglass, stainless steel, and brass.

First Capital Realty Inc. is one of Canada’s largest owners, developers, and managers of retail-focused urban properties where people live and shop for everyday life. They have a strong dedication to the arts and fund several notable competitions for emerging artists just breaking into the wider Canadian cultural landscape. The competition provides an Emily Carr student or recent alumni, with the opportunity to install their sculpture in one of the company’s properties, along with a cash prize of $5,000.

The Gestures of Birds, which is the first suspended piece in First Capital Realty’s history, can be found at Shops at New West. There, you can enjoy the evocative, sweeping movement of the sculpture, reminiscent of the flight patterns of birds. The sculpture’s positioning changes with the winds, allowing viewers a new perspective each time they see it. Equipped with pigeon spikes, the piece provokes questions about the manner in which we share spaces with our wildlife.

Lattey’s work is a stunning addition to public art in the lower mainland. A special thank you to First Capital Realty for continuing to create opportunities for young artists to enrich the cultural landscape of their (and our) communities.