A new public art installation has arrived in Ottawa's Confederation Park, and it's already become one of the most talked-about additions to the city's public art landscape in recent memory.
The work, by Algonquin artist and sculptor Mireille Petiquay, consists of seven cedar poles ranging from 4 to 12 metres tall, each carved with figures drawn from Algonquin cosmology and inscribed with words in Algonquin (Anishinaabemowin). At night, embedded lighting traces the carved figures from below, creating an effect that shifts dramatically with the seasons.
The Artist's Vision
Petiquay, who grew up in the Ottawa Valley and has exhibited across Canada and internationally, describes the work as "a conversation between the land and the people who have always known it." The installation is sited in Confederation Park deliberately, the park sits at the intersection of several traditional travel routes along what is now Elgin Street.
"The poles are not decoration," Petiquay said at the unveiling ceremony last weekend. "They are a reminder. This ground has a long memory."
Permanent and Publicly Accessible
The installation is permanent and free to visit year-round. Confederation Park is at the corner of Elgin and Laurier, a short walk from City Hall, Centretown, and the National Arts Centre. No tickets, no opening hours, just walk up and look.
The installation was commissioned by the City of Ottawa's Public Art Program in partnership with the Algonquin Nation Secretariat. It's part of a broader effort to increase the presence of Indigenous art in Ottawa's public spaces following the city's 2021 reconciliation action plan.
Ottawa's Growing Public Art Scene
Ottawa's public art collection has expanded significantly in the past decade. Pieces now anchor Lansdowne Park, the LeBreton Flats area, the Rideau Centre plaza, and multiple locations along the O-Train corridor. Petiquay's installation is among the most significant additions in terms of scale and cultural weight.
Take an evening walk through Confederation Park this spring. It's worth your time.
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