Public Art

Bronze SCULPTURE of Dr. Henry Marshall – Public Art Tribute

 

A significant part of Morden's heritage is the plant breeding done at the federal research station. No local plant breeder is better known than Dr. Henry Marshall, who created the famous Parkland series of roses and revitalized the rose-growing industry in Canada. To honour Dr. Marshall’s brilliant work, this bronze sculpture was installed in the Parkland Rose Garden at the Morden Civic Centre. Jake Goertzen, a local Pembina Hills artist sculpted and cast this piece. The inscription on the piece reads;

 

Henry Heard Marshall, D.Sc. P.Ag
1916 - 1994
Award-winning scietnist, author, citizen extraordinaire.
Plant breeder with over 40 introductions, including Parkland series of roses.
"Life begins the day you start a garden."

Mrs. Eva Marshall (Henry's wife) and their sons Bob, Bill, Rick and Jim Marshall along with a number of grand and great grand children, family and friends were present at the unveiling ceremony.

Family in the photo from left to right are;
Jim Marshall, Bob Marshall, Bill Marshall, Mrs Eva Marshall
Rick Marshall

This sculpture was made possible with funding from the Government of Canada - Department of Canadian Heritge, the Town of Morden and the Thomas Sill Foundation. It was unveiled on July 19th, 2008.

 

Murals of Morden

The "Chautauqua Spirit" Project included the creation of four additional murals to compliment the already existing three murals in Town.

Chautauqua Spirit Mural – Unveiled August 16th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
The Chautauqua Spirit mural is located on the east wall of the Morden Friendship Centre, 306 North Railway Street. It was designed and painted by Margie Hildebrand and Co-designed by Chris Block. Contributing artists were Chris Block, Pamela Yorke-Hardy, Karen Schmidt, Catherine Murray and Marianne Dyck. (340 Painting Hours) This mural was part of the "Chautauqua Spirit" Project - 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada Award for Morden. The mural was unveiled on August 16th, 2008.

Central in the design of the mural is a dream catcher. This symbol comes from the native tradition, present in this area long before European and other settlers came here to Morden. It shows how the dreams and the spirit of the arts and culture have moved through time and among the people here. The tents of the Chautauqua travelling show which came to Morden in the 1920's, are in the center. The various branches of arts and culture are emanating from the tents and weave through the dream catcher. The bands of different colour, each representing a type of art or cultural activity, contain only a small sampling of the people and places known for their contribution to the concept of "Catch the Chautauqua Spirit". Click here for a detailed description of each culture stream on the mural and a list of the artists who took part.

Royal Canadian Legion Mural – Unveiled August 16th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
The Legion Mural is located on the west wall of the Legion Building on 7th Street. This mural recognizes and peretuates the Act of Rememberance for all of our Veterans. The idea and inspiration comes from Maurice Butler who also designed the content. It is a transitional collage of images that recognize the different theatres of war. The choice of sepia colour tones was to give the feel of time. The three central images represent each branch of the Armed Forces and these three individuals are former residents of Morden. The "Act of Remembrance" above their heads is for all to see and consider that "We Will Remember Them." Click on the image to see a larger view. The mural was unveiled on August 16th, 2008.

This mural was digitized, printed and installed by IS Image Promotions Ltd. - Morden.

Mosasaur Mural – Unveiled August 16th at 1:00 pm
The Mosasaur Mural is located on the west wall of 290 Stephen Street facing 7th Street. This mural highlights Morden's Star Attraction - the Canadian Fossil Discovery Center by featuring the marine reptiles that once lived in the Western Interior Seaway which covered Morden 80 million years ago. Yvonne Peters, project leader, with the help of eleven young artistic and creative students, designed this 3D mural. The students were Kendra Friesen, Amy Agnew, Cristy Galez, Danessa Rempel, Teresa Fehr, Jesse Rodgers, Tiffany Krahn, Amy Jean Maclean, Daniela Felix, Alicia Lastras and TJ Matychuck. Many of the students were on hand to unveil the mural on August 16th, 2008.

The mural was digitized, printed and installed by IS Image Promotions Ltd. - Morden

Morden Rose Mural – Unveiled July 19th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
The Rose Mural is located on the East wall of Boundary Trail Place (Agassiz Medical Centre) facing Route #100 and the Morden Research Station where the Parkland Series Roses were developed. It was designed and hand painted by artist Irene Peters. This mural depicts the hardiness of the Morden Centennial Rose - one of the Parkland Series of roses that were developed by Dr. Henry Marshall. The unveiling of the mural took place on July 19th, 2008 and was part of the "Chautauqua Spirit Project" - 2008 Cultural Capital of Canada Award.

 

Rose Banner Celebration

Unveiled July 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm at the Pembina Hills Arts Centre
Morden youth and their families worked with the Pembina Hills Arts Centre to create street banners, depicting roses created in Morden. (E.g. Morden Fireglow, Morden Sunrise, Hope for Humanity, Prairie Celebration, etc.)

The photo to the right is just one sample of the banners produced by these young people.