Pictured Above: Northern Cardinal art installation by artists Mickael Minghetti and Andrés Jiménez Monge.
On February 17th, our Waterfront Shores team will be bringing a massive 25-ft Northern Cardinal public art installation to the Pier 8 ice rink. Called Wildlife-guard Chair, the piece is a striking red cardinal that will create a temporary landmark along Pier 8, adding vibrancy and energy to the waterfront during the winter months.
The installation will be on display at the ice rink until March 6th, as part of the City of Hamilton and Cobalt Connect’s WinterFest programming. Created by artists Mickael Minghetti and Andrés Jiménez Monge, from France and Canada respectively, the Wildlife-guard Chair is inspired by the diversity of the 250+ bird species found along Lake Ontario and encourages the public to explore the biodiversity along the waterfront.
The installation stems from the Winter Stations international design competition, which launched in 2015 and invites designers, artists, and architects to create bold designs that spark conversation and draw people outside to enjoy the waterfront in the winter. This year, the theme is Resilience, where artists were asked to reflect on all the ways people have had to be resilient, and explore how this resilience was channeled, be it through communities, movements, support networks and more.
The installation was selected as part of a jury, of which Bruce Kuwabara, a founding partner of internationally acclaimed KPMB Architects, and part our Pier 8’s design team, was a member.
We look forward to seeing Hamiltonians come out to view this wonderful installation, go for a skate at the Pier 8 ice rink, sip a coffee at Williams Fresh Café, and take in the beautiful views of the waterfront.
Wildlife-guard Chair will be on display from February 17th until March 6th and can be viewed at the Pier 8 ice rink, located at 47 Discovery Drive.
Alongside the installation, we are also proud to support WinterFest which is returning again this year. Waterfront Shores Partners is sponsoring a geodesic dome at the WinterFest Hub at Auchmar House, which will host a diverse mix of artists, crafters and product developers.
Stay tuned for more information.
