Monarch butterflies, bursting flowers, musical instruments, colourful homes and more – it all makes up the new mosaic mural on the walls entering Lorne Avenue Park.
The Lorne Avenue Park Public Art Mosaic is part of recent enhancement work to Lorne Avenue Park, along with new educational insect tracing plates for children and additional Adirondack chairs along English Street.
Clayworx artists Cassandra Robinson and Sadie Wasylko organized the design of this public art installation after hosting multiple workshops with community members to create each handmade ceramic tile.
The mosaic also features shards of mirror, mortar and grout.
“The new mosaic wall at Lorne Avenue Park is another beautiful piece of public art, representing the tapestry of the Old East Village and the heart of the neighbourhood,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “I’m so happy with how the enhancements came together, knowing the community spirit that went into each individual tile.”
"Creating this mosaic mural has been a journey of shared stories and collective artistry,” says Clayworx’s Cassandra Robinson. “The mural is not just a visual joy but a testament to the strength of the Old East Village community. Creating tiles alongside so many passionate individuals has been profoundly rewarding, turning individual moments into lasting symbols of creativity. This project has been a celebration of Old East Village's dedication and collective identity, and I believe it highlights the beauty that emerges when space is made for every voice and idea united under a common vision.”
“The Mosaic Project artistically encapsulates all that Lorne Avenue Park is to the community – a place to gather with neighbours, a place to be active and creative, a place to appreciate nature in an urban environment, and a place that celebrates the historical connection to the old Lorne Avenue Public school and surrounding residential heritage,” adds Lorne Avenue Park Steering Committee member and Old East Village resident Shelly Happy. “Community members were involved in every aspect of park development, from park feature selection to the mosaic wall design and tile-making activities. All this fostered interaction amongst diverse groups and furthered the vision of the park as a new community hub; a truly ‘by the community/for the community’ approach.”
The City of London commends and thanks the Lorne Avenue Park Steering Committee for their hard work in securing funding for this enhancement project through a grant from the federal government’s Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. Thank you to the Government of Canada for the investment in transforming public spaces.
The City of London also thanks the artists, Community Foundations of Canada, London Community Foundation, London Arts Council, Clayworx and all the individuals who were involved in tile making workshops.
Lorne Avenue Park officially opened in 2021.
Public Art and Monument Program
The City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program facilitates the creation of public art in London, which bolsters civic pride, provides focal points for community celebration, creates meaningful employment for artists and attracts tourism and investment. For artists interesting in participating in the Public Art and Monument Program, visit londonarts.ca/opportunities to check for Calls to Artists.