Nina Haggerty artists unveil new sculptures at the Edmonton Expo Centre
April 10, 2025
On Friday, April 4th two new sculptures created by artists from the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts and Chrysalis: An Alberta Society for Citizens with Disabilities were unveiled at the Edmonton Expo Centre. Proud Flowers and Big Boyd will now be on permanent display to delight visitors.
Big Boyd, the towering moose sculpture crafted almost entirely from recycled materials received funding through the EAC’s Connections & Exchanges Initiatives grant program. Through this program the EAC invests in new arts activity and collaborations, encourages resiliency and innovation, and supports the artistic work of not-for-profit organizations. For this project, three Nina Haggerty artists – Dale Donahue, Amynah Pirani, and Jarred Quinney – were fortunate to work alongside award winning Sri Lankan artist, Lalith Senanyake, to bring the sculpture to fruition. Together the artists collaborated to create the large-scale sculpture which brings awareness to topics like environmental sustainability.
“Working with Lalith was a fun time,” says Nina artist Jared Quinney. “He was a hands-on teacher. We got to do a lot of learning. We got to screw on all the pieces and see what it takes to do a project like this. I found it was really encouraging to see it [finished]. I was always excited to go there to work on it. He is a great artist, and I loved working with him.”
This installation exemplifies the goals of the Connections & Exchanges plan, bringing artists and community together, creating artistic connections, challenging assumptions, and offering thought provoking art for Edmontonians.
The second installation, Proud Flowers, was created in partnership between the Nina Haggerty Centre and Chrysalis. The flower sculpture was assembled by an accumulation of small clay pieces and works of art to create an intricate tower. This sculpture was made possible by funding through the Edmonton Community Foundation.
“Both sculptures celebrate the power of creative exchange between artists working together and are a testament to what artists with developmental disabilities can accomplish when given the opportunity,” says Janice Easton, Director of Communications & Artistic Outreach at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts. “Historically there have not been as many opportunities for artists with disabilities to create large public art installations like this, so it’s really exciting to have a venue with as much traffic as the Edmonton EXPO Centre see the value of this work and help us share it with such a big audience. The EXPO Centre has become a hub of inclusive arts, with work by eighteen artists supported by the Nina now on display throughout the building. The entire community benefits when public art is made by artists as diverse as the audience viewing it.
We are so grateful for support from the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Community Foundation which made it possible for these artists to work together.”
