Off the Wall Art! Your Guide to Fredericton’s Public Art
Fredericton is a city full of art and culture where creativity flows as naturally as the majestic Saint John River. Inspiration from our creative community can be found around every corner and that includes many public art pieces and monuments you may not have noticed before!
With the weather getting warmer, now is a perfect time to plan a trek around the city. You can find a handy digital map that will help guide you as well as inform you along the way.
In the downtown area alone there are 15, soon to be 16 works of art to discover. This blog will outline a few of the pieces along the Northside and Southside riverfront trail system, making it easy to plan a walk or bike ride to view several on your journey.
Perhaps a great meeting point to start your tour is on the Southside riverfront trail and Rendez-Vous! This stone and granite sculpture called Rendez-Vous was gifted to the city (2016) by the New Brunswick Medical Society in celebration of its 150th anniversary.
Next up is one of the city’s most popular artworks, especially in the springtime! Watermark, by sculptor Gerald Beaulieu is a series of 11 wooden posts, all at different heights which depict the height of the Saint John River during flooding over the years. The tallest post, the "memory pole", is encased in copper sheets that mark the year and peak water level of the Saint John River during the annual freshet (p.s. the tallest is 8.31 metres, the height of the river flooding in 2018).
Nearby is the pedway also known as the 104th Regiment of Foot Bridge and one of the newest and most colorful public art pieces along the Wolastoq. Tobique First Nation artist Emma Hassencahl-Perley was commissioned to create a mural on the lookout section of the pedway. The mural features warm, bright colours inspired by the sunrise and Wabanaki double curves, a traditional design.
Just steps away you’ll see the HMSC Fredericton Anchor presented to the City of Fredericton by her namesake ship HMCS Fredericton. It was presented on the occasion of the ships commissioning in September 1994.
Making your way along the Southside riverfront trail, up next is The TD Sculpture Garden, surrounding three sides of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, where you’ll find quite a few lovely pieces of public art! We love the 12-foot-high spiral of transparent panels reflecting ever-changing light conditions of sky blue and the sun’s glow in this outstanding piece called Arriving Home. This was created by internationally renowned artist, and American sculptor Dennis Oppenheim. Take the time to wonder around here and see The Birth of Venus by New Brunswick Acadian artist André Lapointe, the 7-foot tall sculpture entitled King and Queen (Cornuti) along with many other pieces that share this beautiful space.
Just on the other side of the art gallery, the popular Lord Beaverbrook Statue has recently moved to The Green and now has the company of the Robert Burns statue. The Sir James Dunn Memorial "Three Graces" fountain will soon find a home here as well in this newly reconstructed space.
In this same area, kitty corner to Gallery 78 is The Fredericton Cenotaph, a memorial (dedicated on November 11, 1923 to the memory of the 109 Fredericton soldiers who died in WWI.
Just before you cross the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, you’ll see the Fredericton – Morell Park Pavilion. The individuals listed on this pavilion played a crucial role in creating The Great Trail of Canada, which connects the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.
From the train bridge, arriving on the Northside riverfront trail you’re greeted by a large polished granite plaque, placed to honour Alexander "Boss" Gibson, lumber and cotton magnate and railway baron. (Insider’s tip: there is also a larger than life bronze statue of Gibson in the lobby of Marysville Place – the old Marysville Cotton Mill).
Following the riverside trail brings you past Picaroons (maybe it’s time to stop in for a cold beverage) and on the trail into Carleton Park. Here you will find a large granite piece called Transformations. Roughly carved into a circular shape and inside, a wheel, which for the artist, represents transformative change.
We hope you enjoyed this short overview of some of the amazing public art pieces, there are so many more to discover including Rhodo in the Fredericton Botanic Gardens and Memoria Address situated beside the Fredericton Convention Centre. The digital map features well over 30 public art pieces throughout the city and is continually being updated.
We had to throw in this little add on – check out this visual burst of joy just installed! A local Fredericton doctor, and part-time artist, installed his latest work on display at his home on Acacia Court (just off Waterloo Row). Dr. Brian MacKinnon’s home features window shutters made up of thousands (6000!) of brightly coloured children’s toys melted together. This latest work is called I Love You Love Me. Part of what he wanted to do with this piece is create art away from a gallery setting, making it very accessible to everyone.
Looking for more? We recommend taking a look at the International Sculpture Trail that showcases sculptures found in New Brunswick, including 2 in Fredericton and some in our neighbouring communities of Gagetown, New Maryland & Oromocto.
We can’t wait to hear which was your favourite!
