The Hands of Time consists of 12 bronze About the Artist PUBLIC ART WALKING TOUR sculptures that depict life-size hands engaged Crystal Przybille (pronounced Sheh-bill) in activities symbolic of Victoria’s past. The was born in Vernon and currently resides three-dimensional hands vary in culture, age in Kelowna, British Columbia. She has and gender, and quietly convey eras and a fine arts degree with Distinction from The Hands of Time: stories of Victoria. the University of Victoria. Przybille is also known for The Father Pandosy Mission Celebrating the City of Victoria’s The artwork is designed to playfully engage 150th Anniversary Commemorative Sculpture, which young and old, local and visitor, while kindling commemorates the 150th anniversary of the oldest 150th Anniversary interest in Victoria’s history and identity. Each Euro-Canadian settlement in the Okanagan Valley and piece reveals a depth of meaning about Victoria, is part of the Kelowna Public Art Collection. and beckons exploration and contemplation. The Hands of Time is the first of Przybille’s artworks in the City of Victoria’s public art collection.
About the Process Crystal Przybille was one of more than 80 artists who responded to the City of Victoria’s “Call to Artists” for the national, three-stage Victoria 150 public art competition. Following the City’s Art in Public Places policy, submissions were assessed on their artistic merit, expression of theme, feasibility, the use of public space, and sustainability. FOR MORE INFORMATION: City of Victoria, Parks, Recreation and Culture Department About the Artwork T 250.361.0363 The Hands of Time depicts hands carving a canoe paddle, E [email protected] holding a railway spike, performing with a fan, carrying www.victoria.ca/150artwork blankets, carrying books, holding binoculars, tying a rope to a mooring ring, panning for gold, raising a tea cup, holding a mirror, cupping Dogwood blossoms, and digging Camas bulbs. Our commitment to the environment Each sculpture is cast in bronze and finished with a dark The environmental savings below were achieved by printing patina. Some of the artworks such as “Holding a Mirror” this brochure using 100% post-consumer recycled fibre in incorporate smoothly polished stainless steel reflective pieces. place of virgin fibre: To ensure authenticity, Crystal Przybille worked with 6 trees First Nations artists in designing two of the art pieces. The paddle element in the “Carving the Canoe Paddle” 23,801 L of water – 68 days of water consumption sculpture was designed by Clarence Dick of the Songhees 361 kg of waste – 7 waste containers Nation, and the gathering basket element in the “Digging Camas Bulbs” artwork was designed by Carolyn Memnook 937 kg CO2 – 6,268 km driven of the T’souke Nation. 11 GJ – 49,000 60W light bulbs for one hour
The 12 bronze sculptures are located around Victoria’s Inner 3 kg NOX – emissions of one truck during 9 days The Hands of Time is a 12-part series of bronze Harbour, with one art piece at City Hall, The Hudson building, sculptures by British Columbia artist along the Songhees Walkway, and another at the top of Crystal Przybille to commemorate the Beacon Hill at Beacon Hill Park. The artworks can be found on buildings, lamp standards, rocks in landscaped areas, City of Victoria’s 150th anniversary and on bedrock. of incorporation in 2012.
We invite you to explore Victoria’s history and identity, which these sculptures depict. CHATHAM The Hands of Time: The Hands of Time by Crystal Przybille HERALD
Celebrating the City of Victoria’s 150th Anniversary FISGARD Celebrating the City of Victoria’s KIMTA 150th Anniversary ESQUIMALT PANDORA 1. Carving a Canoe Paddle 6. Holding Binoculars COOPERAGE PL Location: On bedrock in Lime Bay Park, northwest Location:The Hands On brick of Time wall artwork west commemoratesside of Wharf theStreet, JOHNSON City of Victoria’s sesquicentennial in 2012. Twelve SONGHEES of Songhees Walkway (near waterfront) near Bastion Square YATES
bronze sculptures depict life-size hands engaged WHARF Description: The paddle element of this Description: This sculpture looks out to in activities which are symbolic of Victoria’s past. sculpture was designed by First Nations the ocean, referencing the compelling artist, Clarence Dick. The sculpture The artworknature beckons of Victoria’sus to explore geography and and the contemplate, reminding us that the present was DOUGLAS FORT references Lekwungen culture, both past foundation of its tourism and sightseeing formed by those who came before, and that we, BLANSHARD and present. industries. BROUGHTON shape the future.
2. Holding a Railway Spike 7. Tying1. Carving a Rope a Canoe to a PaddleMooring Ring 2. Holding a Railway Spike Location: On lamp standard east side of Wharf Street Location: On bedrock near David Foster Way, below 3. Performing with a Fan BELLEVILLE (between Pandora Avenue and Johnson Street) Wharf Street (between Fort and Broughton Streets) 4. Carrying Point Blankets Description: This sculpture references the history 5. CarryingDescription: Books This sculpture references and impact of the construction of an island the arrival of the first tall ships to the BC LEGISLATURE 6. Holding Binoculars BUILDINGS railroad in the 1880s, which connected Victoria 7. Tying areaa Rope and to aVictoria’s Mooring Ring nautical identity.
DOUGLAS with the railway system of Canada. This artwork 8. PanningOriginal for Gold mooring rings – remnants BEACON HILL PARK
is in proximity to the old E&N Railroad. 9. Raisingof aFort Tea VictoriaCup – can be found at GOVERNMENT DALLAS 10. Holdingthis a Mirrorlocation. 11. Cupping Dogwood Blossoms 3. Performing with a Fan BEACON HILL PARK 12. Digging Camas Bulbs DOUGLAS Location: On lamp standard east side of Government Street 8. Panning for Gold (between Fisgard Street and Pandora Avenue) Location: On rock within landscaping below Description: This sculpture symbolizes the Wharf Street, near Broughton Street significance of Chinese culture and the Description: This sculpture references the Gold performing arts in Victoria’s identity. It is situated Rush of 1858 that brought many people to Fort 11. Cupping Dogwood Blossoms in proximity to the McPherson Playhouse and the Victoria. This sculpture is situated near the Custom Location: On lamp standard north side of Belleville Street, gates of Canada’s oldest Chinatown. House, where mining licences were administered. near Government Street Description: Pacific Dogwood is British Columbia’s 4. Carrying Point Blankets 9. Raising a Tea Cup floral emblem. This sculpture symbolizes Victoria as British Columbia’s Capital City, and the Location: On west entrance of The Hudson at 1700 Block Location: On lamp standard at corner of Government and importance of appreciating the present and of Douglas Street Humboldt Streets, near the Fairmont Empress Hotel nurturing the future. Description: This sculpture references the Description: This sculpture references Victoria’s historical significance of the Hudson’s Bay traditional, customary and historical connections Company to Victoria’s identity. The Hudson’s Bay to Britain. 12. Digging Camas Bulbs Company extensively traded wool point blankets Location: On rockbed in a landscaped garden on Beacon Hill during the North American Fur Trade. 10. Holding a Mirror at Beacon Hill Park Description: The gathering basket element of this Location: On Lower Causeway wall, below Government Street, sculpture was designed by First Nations artist 5. Carrying Books near the central staircase Carolyn Memnook. Gathering baskets and digging Location: On west wall of Victoria City Hall at the Description: This sculpture reflects the Inner sticks were utilized by the Lekwungen people Pandora Avenue entrance Harbour, which is key to Victoria’s history and to gather Camas bulbs for food. The site of this Description: The sculptural books symbolize identity. The reflection and text in the mirror reminds sculpture overlooks a vast Camas bulb field, education and governance in the Capital City us that where we are now – the present – is a result a traditional territory of the Lekwungen people. of British Columbia. of all that has come before, and is part of all that is yet to come.