Artwork on display in downtown Fredericton provides pleasant distraction from construction work
A sure sign of summer is streets closed for construction, and in downtown Fredericton, it's well under way on Regent Street.
The construction is necessary for infrastructure, but a deterrent for many. But, this year, you might want to stroll by as Downtown Fredericton Inc. has found a way for people to enjoy it.
"Given that normally a construction zone is normally a place that people shy away from and given that our businesses have had a very hard time due to the pandemic the last 15 or so months, we wanted to do everything we possibly could to encourage people to come to this street," said Krista Rae, of Downtown Fredericton Inc.
They put out a call to local artists to submit their already completed pieces for consideration, 23 were selected, and 40 panels of their work were created to adorn the fence.
They're hopeful it will also attract people to visit the businesses along the street so that they're not heavily impacted by construction.
"We were uncertain about how it would work with the art on these mesh panels, how it would hold up during construction, during the weather so we worked with the printer to find a suitable material that could handle those elements," Rae said.
The construction site art is a first for the city, but they're hoping it won't be the last time the use barricades as an easel.
"I think it's really unique it's not in a gallery setting it's not even an art show really it's a very passive way for people to kind of be able to view art," said Laura Forrester, a Fredericton based artist who has two pieces along Regent Street.
For those walking by who wanted to know more about the art, most pieces include a QR code to scan and bring you to the artist's site or social media.
"If a person sees something that they're really engaging with and they want to know more about that artist they have a way of finding them," Forrester said.
Passersby are enjoying the colourful flare the art has brought the street.
"It's a great way to transform a construction site into an attraction rather than something people don't want to go towards." said Rachel Smith who admired the art while out for a walk.
"I appreciate seeing the local people and recognizing names from the area, and I think also the QR codes are sick you can scan them and they take you to like an artist's page," she said.
Construction on Regent Street is expected to last until August, and the art will be up take in for the duration of the summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.