Check Out The New Interactive Art Installation In Downtown Peterborough

There is a new public space at the corner of King and Water streets in downtown Peterborough that is open to the public. The DBIA encourages people to get up-close with the art pieces and the native plants, and enjoy the space.

Formerly an underused paved area, this piece of land has been transformed into green space in partnership with GreenUP and other community partners. This site houses two beautiful art installations as part of the Jiimaan’ndewemgadnong* (the place where the heart of the canoe beats) Canoe Art Project. The art canoe and transformer box art in the park are the work of Indigenous artist Tia Cavanagh.  

Indigenous artist Tia Cavanagh poses with her creation (photo courtesy DBIA)

While visiting the site—the art installations there were generously funded by Kim and Mark Zippel—you can call 705-775-7826 to listen to canoe stories told by three local Anishinaabe women. 

“This project is a beautiful addition to our downtown and has transformed that corner to create a small park with some interesting and engaging art,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.

The site was transformed into a pocket park last year with the help of community volunteers, local organizations and businesses. If you are interested in being part of future projects or to learn more, contact Dawn Pond via email here or check out the Downtown Vibrancy webpage.

*This name was born of community discussion and translated beautifully in to the local Mizi-Zaagiing Anishinaabeg dialect of Ojibwe by Jack Hoggarth (Cultural Archivist at Curve Lake Cultural Centre) and Mary Alice Taylor (Elder of Curve Lake First Nation).

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