Bird Set Free to Coming to Florence Carlyle Park

Monday, 24 June 2024 11:35

Rendering of Bird Set Free. Photo Credit: Woodstock Art Gallery

The winning design for the Florence Carlyle Park public art commission is called Bird Set Free and it came from a Woodstock couple.

WOODSTOCK - We finally know more about the sculpture that is coming to Florence Carlyle Park honouring a legendary painter from Woodstock.

It's designed by Duane and Urszula Kumala-Thomas and their whole idea started with a bird, because that was Carlyle's nickname.

Mary Reid, Director Curator of the Woodstock Art Gallery, says the design also incorporates a bird cage and a Victorian-era corset.

"As the bird cage and the corset transform, they grow out into these beautiful multi-coloured tendrils that are referencing the colours of the Pride Flag, speaking to Florence's own sexuality. She did have, at least from what I can see, three very meaningful relationships with women with the last one being Juliet Hastings."

Duane was he was proud to design this sculpture with his wife because they have a connection to Florence Carlyle.

"This project holds a special place in our hearts. Beyond the significance of celebrating Florence Carlyle’s legacy in our community, as parents of two, we have had the honour of raising our family in the same home Carlyle grew up in."

The Woodstock Art Gallery launched the public art commission in May 2023, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Carlyle's death. It received $50,000 from the federal government and topped it off with $25,000 from the Art Gallery's Art Acquisition Reserve Funds.

Reid says the statue should be installed by 2025.

"I would like to be hopeful that it would be installed this fall, but at the same time I am also very cognisant that artwork will take as long as it takes and I do not want to rush it as it is a very important piece and it is a permanent public artwork. The very latest it would be installed is early Spring 2025."

(Duane and Urszula Kumala-Thomas at the Woodstock Art Gallery’s open house on June 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Stephan Cam.)

(The shortlisted proposals for the public art commission are on display at the Woodstock Art Gallery until August 17th. Photo Credit: Woodstock Art Gallery)