Media Release: Metrotown's newest public art piece unveiled at Boffo's Modello project

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Media Release

METROTOWN’S NEWEST PIECE OF PUBLIC ART TO BE UNVEILED AT THE GATEWAY OF
BOFFO DEVELOPMENTS MODELLO PROJECT AND BURNABY’S BERESFORD ART WALK.
The 25 foot intricately designed sculpture, named Old Column, is made of welding stainless steel wire
filigree, referencing the Douglas Fir trees of Burnaby’s Central Park
Burnaby, BC (June 28, 2017): Metrotown’s newest piece of public art has been unveiled today by Boffo Developments and Lead Pencil Studio- the 25 foot tall, 1,300lbs, Old Column. The stunning work will anchor Boffo Developments’ new Modello project in Burnaby.
The new sculpture was inspired by the Douglas Fir timber in Burnaby’s Central Park, and was built using a sculptural fabrication technique that included welding stainless steel wire. Old Column is Lead Pencil Studio’s first commissioned public art piece in Canada.
Internationally acclaimed artists Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo utilized stainless steel and aluminum wire to create a unique cellular pattern that would be visually stunning both up close and from a distance. Their most technical and labor-intensive piece of artwork to date, the pair used fine grain, high quality welds in order to ensure a refined appearance from top to bottom.
Visually unique, the sculpture does not block views or restrict movement by those passing by the busy street corner. Designed to reflect Burnaby’s transition from natural to urban, the public art piece aligns perfectly with the architecture of Modello and the urban plaza Old Column stands on.
“I was really impressed with the quality of the architecture at Modello and the scale of the building,” said artist Daniel Mihalyo. “We especially like the neighbourhood and the park nearby (Central Park).”
Situated in the heart of Metrotown Town Centre, Old Column will be the gateway to Burnaby’s Beresford Art Walk. Collaboration between the Burnaby City Planning Council, the Burnaby Art Gallery, Lead Pencil Studio and Boffo Developments created a selection process for a piece of artwork that would be meaningful to the artists, the City, Boffo residents and community members. Striving to connect neighbourhoods and encourage community engagement, the Modello development will bring a foundation of culture and art to the area in an impactful and long-lasting way.
Located in a prime southeast corner of Willingdon Avenue and Beresford Street, Modello is a mixed-used development with a combination of residential, office, retail and recreation space. The Beresford Art Walk, designed with wider, tree-lined sidewalks, outdoor seating, cafes, and public art pieces will be a dynamic and social pedestrian space for the neighbourhood.
About Lead Pencil Studio
Founded in 1997 by Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo, Lead Pencil Studio is an art and architecture collaborative that often engage in projects that involve site-specific art pieces and functional architecture. Their award-winning work has been featured across North America, and centers on the intersection of architecture, art and human behaviour. The pair has worked with various mediums, including video, sculpture, drawing, installation and photography. The art team created Non-Sign II, a complex sculpture that sits at the border of Canada and the U.S. The piece consists of a blank space in the shape of a billboard, surrounded by tangled metal.
About Boffo Developments
Boffo Developments has proudly created over 4,000 uncompromising homes, while building a solid reputation and a loyal following over 45 years. They’ve achieved this by designing and building homes for a truly exceptional homeowner experience. An obsession for detail is inherent in every Boffo home, and the disciplined attention to design results in a very unique brand of craftsmanship. Every Boffo community is built intentionally, with a long-term legacy in mind – not just their own, but for that of their homeowners. To protect that legacy, they continue to care for their buildings long after they are built – as everything they build is a reflection of who they are.
 
Photos of Old Column by Broda Photography