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Art Is in the Air public art | by Sophia Sorensen High above our heads, gracefully a d o r n i n g streetlights a n d d o t t i n g the landscape of sky, are vivid images. In elegant simplicity, a m o u n t a i n , tree, bird, all exhibiting glorious colours of the palette, are s t a n d i n g still for v i e w e r s ' pleasure. Placed w i t h i n sight but out of reach, as if by the heavens. These images are the crea t i o n s of J o a n Elliot's i m a g i n a t i o n a n d t a l ent. N o w , silk-screened o n banners, they accentuate the Lonsdale corridor. Elliot, in partnership w i t h the North Shore Arts C o m m i s s i o n , has f o u n d an i n n o v a tive w a y to capture images of her s u r r o u n d ings a n d s h o w c a s e the results for all to enjoy. Leesa Strimbicki, public art coordinator, oversaw the Call to Artists and the process that a w a r d e d the contract to Elliot. The project is funded by the Public Art Reserve Fund, a small subset of the City of North Vancouver's capital budget. Strimbicki says that the " b a n ners are part of the Lonsdale Corridor Master Plan and signify that changes are taking place in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d . " Fourteen s u b m i s s i o n s w e r e originally received. These w e r e then reduced to a shortlist of three artists. These artists had to s u b m i t a p r o p o s a l for three distinct designs, o n e for each of three North Vancouver areas, e a c h j o i n e d by a c o m m o n t h r e a d . The Lower Lonsdale area has a heritage theme, b e t w e e n 4th a n d 8th Streets. North of Highway 9 9 , a residential t h e m e presides, a n d b e t w e e n 8th a n d 21st Streets, a b u s i ness t h e m e d o m i n a t e s . The c o m m i t t e e chose all three of Elliot's submissions. It is providence that brought the banners to life. W h e n Elliot first heard a b o u t the Call to Artists, she t h o u g h t it w a s a great c h a l l e n g e -- f o r an artistically inclined friend. However, w h e n she read the p r o p o s a l , she herself felt attracted to it, a n d this feeling inspired her to apply. "I've never d e s i g n e d banners before," says Elliot, " b u t s o m e t h i n g a b o u t this o p p o r t u n i t y d r e w me i n . " She w a s b o t h surprised a n d elated to be shortlisted a n d f o u n d that the concepts c a m e t o her easily once she picked up her artist's brush. The designs are a visual treat. Each b a n ner is b o l d a n d c o m p l e t e on its o w n ; together, they form an impressive a n d c o m plimentary trio. Elliot's intention is that " t h e connection b e t w e e n each banner is the time of day: the heritage t h e m e has the sun rising, the business t h e m e the mid-day sun, a n d the residential t h e m e is n i g h t . " The b a n ners are a reflection of h o w residents spend their time. Elliot's name may be n e w to many in the art w o r l d , at least in the c o m m e r c i a l sense. A long-time North Shore resident, she has been busy pursuing a path that is a b l e n d of corporate experience, entrepreneurial activity, a n d creative interests. A life-long penchant for the arts g u i d e d her t o w a r d a profession in interior design, concentrating on business a n d residential sites. Other artistic passions, such as d r a w i n g , p a i n t i n g , a n d the latest a d d i t i o n , quilting, have resulted in r e w a r d i n g a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s . In particular, her quilting has an altruistic aspect: her quilting club has created a n d d o n a t e d quilts for premature infants, w o m e n in transition homes, and lap quilts for seniors. The work is an impressive marriage of aesthetics a n d comfort. Elliot has n o w taken her sensitivity a n d talent for creating beauty inside a n d is sharing it by exhibiting her w o r k outside. N o w that Elliot has c o m p l e t e d the b a n ner designs, the next step is production of the final banners. A production c o m p a n y will be selected through a competitive process, a n d Elliot is l o o k i n g forward to w o r k i n g with it in order to " l e a r n about the screening p r o c e s s " a n d to ensure that her designs are depicted w i t h integrity. Once the banners, a u t o g r a p h e d by Elliott, have been displayed, they w i l l be sold, the proceeds used to replenish the Public Art Reserve Fund. The lucky f e w buyers w i l l be able to enjoy Elliot's work for a long time. If y o u look up t o w a r d the sky from April until the end of the summer, y o u t o o w i l l be able to appreciate the glory a n d intensity of her creations. HERITAGE IN NATURE, LOWER LONSDALE/NORTH VANCOUVER BEGAN WITH TREES AND BOOMED WITH LOGGING AND LUMBER MILLS. LOWER LONSDALE FROM THE WATHERFRONT TO 4TH ST.