The Project is called 'Orcas in the City'
What is Orcas in the City?
Imagine this ... Vancouver streets and other targeted areas in the Lower Mainland filled with ornately decorated Orcas. Starting November 2003 till May 2004, Orcas will be surfacing throughout Vancouver, where the event will run from June to October 2004. Look for such Orcas as the "Mayorca", "Orca Borealis", "Urban Orca", "Elvis Orca" and the "Pod'borski Orca" just to name a few. As you can see we definitely have something to sprout about. The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities will be turning the streets of Vancouver and targeted Lower Mainland key points into a WHALE of an event.
Here's how it works...
Local artists, in partnership with sponsoring individuals or organizations, will create a unique design and apply it to the surface of a life size (approx. 8ft with base) custom formed fibreglass Orca calf. The Orca becomes the artist's canvas. Once the work is complete, the Orca will be displayed in prominent public spaces around Vancouver, with the majority being placed in the downtown business core. A 'Walking Guide' will be created and distributed to tour operators, hotels, tourist spots, cruise terminals and popular community distribution points.
Orcas in the City is modelled after other successful community art projects, such as Chicago's 'Cows on Parade', Toronto's 'Moose in the City' and Saskatoon's 'Pigs in the City'.
The goals of 'Orcas in the City' are very simple:
To create an event that provides maximum exposure to sponsoring organizations, artists and recipient charities.
To produce an event that encourages the 'Arts', local businesses and individuals to come together in a spirit of community fundraising to benefit the important work of the BC Lions Society's Easter Seal Operations and the Canucks for Kids' Fund.
To generate artistic creativity and showcase BC artists.
To celebrate in the cultural diversity of our province and promote civic pride.
To capture the imaginations of children, adults, and visitors alike.
The Orca was chosen to embody the West Coast and to highlight the fact that British Columbia is one of the best places in the world to view killer whales. The Orca exhibit will be on display from May/June through to October 2004.
To introduce the exhibit we held an exciting kick off event in November 2003 where the Orca "Mayorca" was presented to the media, the public invited guests and public affairs in front of the Vancouver's City Hall.
The exhibit will end with the 'Orca Auction & Gala Dinner', a black tie gala where the Orcas will be put on the block and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Orcas will be auctioned live at the gala while the remaining Orcas will be auctioned online. Orca auction proceeds in Vancouver will go the BC Lions Society's Easter Seal Operations and the Canucks for Kids Fund.