Arts Alive is Oak Bay Parks, Recreation & Culture’s annual public sculpture exhibition.
Now in it’s tenth year, Arts Alive has transformed Oak Bay into an open-air gallery, showcasing the imagination and skill of Canadian artists working in metal, stone, glass, ceramic, mosaic, and mixed media. Each year in May, sculptures appear across the community, framing ocean views, animating parks, brightening streetscapes, and sparking conversation in gathering places.
These works are generously loaned by the artists, who are supported by local businesses, individuals, and community groups. A volunteer arts jury reviews submissions annually, with shortlisted pieces assessed by municipal staff to ensure technical feasibility and public safety. Throughout the exhibition, residents and visitors are invited to vote for their favourite sculpture. The three most popular works are considered for the People’s Choice Award, with one sculpture considered for purchase by the District of Oak Bay, adding to a growing legacy of permanent public art.
Arts Alive builds on years of vibrant, temporary installations, leaving behind a charming permanent public art collection in Oak Bay. This vision was championed by Barbara Adams, Oak Bay’s Arts Laureate from 2014 to 2020, whose leadership helped to establish Oak Bay as a destination for arts and culture.
Walking Map
View or print the Arts Alive 2025 Sculpture Walk Map Brochure! The 2026 map will be available in July.
Voting
Voting for the 2025 Arts Alive People’s Choice has completed.
Current 2026-27 Sculptures on Exhibition
Natural Transitions
By Bill Frymire
Artistic Statement: Representing our shared relationship with nature, and our transition from an analogue to digital society, This piece puts at odds our dependency and love for the natural world around us with our rapid integration of technology.
I believe it is the artist’s role to comment on the time and society they are in. My work often reflects our complex relationship with nature, juxtaposing it with a technological element to represent our evolution from an analogue to digital culture. This sculpture is a testament to our changing times. The patterns and textures start out organic at the bottom of the sphere and transition to digital patterns as they near the top.
I am committed to being a positive force in the face of our climate emergency and I believe my art can make a difference in communities, one at a time. I work responsibly, using recycled materials and sustainable environmental practices whenever possible. I had leftover aluminum rings from another project and decided to finally realize the sculpture from parts that I had on hand.
Biography:
With over 25 years of experience working as a commercial artist, and illustrator, William Frymire is currently pursuing a career in sustainable public art, as well as creating fine art from found objects, natural stone and recycled materials. Environmentalism is a common theme in his work and his participation in various recycled art exhibitions demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Frymire was born of Métis heritage in Prince George, Canada in 1965. He holds a diploma in Art in Merchandising from Langara College and a diploma in Digital Art and Design from Thompson Rivers University.
In addition to winning the Kamloops Art Council Juried Art Show, Frymire has been acknowledged by Thompson Rivers University as a Distinguished Alumni for Professional Achievement.
Location: Oak Bay Ave at Hampshire Rd
For Sale Cost: $18,000
Sponsor: Oak Bay Pharmasave
The Dancing Girls
By Larry Sherman
Artistic Statement:
This sculpture depicts two young girls at play in a dancing pose. The girls were inspired by joyful memories of watching my own daughters at play when they were young and carefree.
My goal with this sculpture is to remind adults to think back to a similar time in their lives, and also in the age of cell phones and computer screens, to encourage young kids to feel alive, be active, and to have fun together.
Biography: Interest in creating started early in life with parents and three older brothers on the farm in Ontario in the 1950’s. The artist was surrounded by a family who had to be creative in life in order to survive. All equipment had to be fixed using any and all experience obtained through the years. Finding skeletons of antique cars in farmers’ fields, Larry’s older brother and he breathed life back into these cars in the shed. By the age of 19 Larry had completed the re creation of a 1931 Ford Coupe. In his 30’s he built a 1931 Ford Phaeton for which he was recognized with several awards. These experiences led Larry to a career in the trades having obtained a Red Seal in Welding and Red Seal as a Millwright.
His interest in sculpture creation did not come until retirement when in travel he would marvel at bronze sculptures displayed in public areas of for example airports in South Africa, the Netherlands, and Australia. Competing for a space in public areas for his own work was inspired by the Sculpture Walk in the Ocean Town of White Rock BC ,where he and his wife live.
Larry started to practise his art in 2023. Fashioning art out of steel, he spent hundreds of hours in his workshop researching, scaling, cutting, welding and painting creations which he believed to have universal appeal. Pieces were created that reflected Larry’s life – A grazing horse piece progressed to the ever loved “Davy Jones” ocean character from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise; the Dancing Girls piece reminded him of his daughters; inspired by a trip to Banff, Alberta Larry is creating a 3D piece in steel of Mother pushing Baby Bear on a swing.
Larry considers his creations to be an enjoyable hobby, providing hours of enjoyment in his shop, and is delighted to see the reactions of friends and neighbours stopping by to delight in his art.
Location: Oak Bay Ave at Monterey Ave
For Sale Cost: $5,800
Sponsor:
In Love with the Wind
By Serge Mozhnevsky
Artistic Statement:
Sculpture In Love with the Wind represents openness to life.
I believe that simple lines evoked by natural forms such as the human body provide the greatest freedom for our emotions and imagination.
For me, following the line to its intentions is a fascinating conversation.
I see sculpture as a language born in the space between the words, the more we talk the less we hear it.
Biography: Raised in Ukraine, Serge graduated from the Uzhgorod Professional College with a Diploma with Honours in Wood Carving.
During the 80’s and in to the 90’s, he participated in numerous Ukrainian and International exhibitions.
In 2000 Serge immigrated to Canada.
In 2009 he began his journey in public art field, displaying works across Canada and USA .
Serge lives in Coquitlam, BC.
Location: McNeill Bay
For Sale Cost: $29,999
Sponsor: Oak Bay Marine Group
Stumped
By Steve Milroy
Biography:
Steve Milroy is a lifelong professional artist (39 years) whose expertise in a variety of mediums is nothing short of amazing. Best known for his innovative ideas, Steve has a broad skillset enabling him to see through to completion tasks that would be more than daunting for the less experienced artist. Steve paints in oils and acrylics, in both airbrush, traditional, and digital methods, from gallery sized canvasses to gymnasium sized murals. He sculpts in steel, epoxy, fiberglass, aluminum, concrete, and bronze. One of his sculptures was unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their October 2016 visit to Canada. It is permanently installed at The Cridge Center for the Family on Hillside Avenue, Victoria. Steve sees himself as an artist of the common folk, producing wonders that anyone without a degree in art can still fully appreciate and enjoy. The home in Victoria that he and his wife live in was built entirely by Steve and resembles a giant oak tree stump with a round door that would be the envy of any Middle Earth hobbit. It has been featured in the Victoria Times-Colonist newspaper and on CHEK TV. Steve constructs all his zany projects in his shop next door which is a knee-deep clutter of madness and mayhem!
Location: 2025 Oak Bay Ave
Sponsor: The Oak Bay Beach Hotel
Rainbow Cuttlefish
By Erick James
Artistic Statement:
The Rainbow Cuttlefish flashes a vivid display.
A neon glow in the depths, a floating billboard.
Mesmerizing displays by chromatophores.
Colours dance upon its mantle.
Red, purple, green, blue, orange, and yellow.
A warning, an invitation, a disguise.
Biography:
As a biologist and artist my pieces convey the wonders of the natural world. I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of British Columbia and an Honours Metal Certificate from the Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College. I have worked and studied in labs for more than 20 years and still find wonder there. It is this curiosity and excitement for the natural world that I bring to my art. In larger-than-life metal microbes, metal origami birds, scanning electron micrographs in gilded frames, and framed fixed specimen slides. The invisible is made visible, the often seen are re-examined.
Location: Oak Bay Ave at Hampshire Rd
For Sale Cost: $12,000
Sponsors: The Zieglers | Oak Bay Business Improvement Association
MURPHY - Brave and Hospitable
Artistic Statement:
Master and dog is a story of lifelong devotion, indescribably unique loyalty and truly unconditional love. MURPHY is unreservedly dedicated as he sits outside stoically gazing towards the street, waiting for his master. How long has he been away? MURPHY longs for the familiarity of his footsteps, the music of his voice and the affectionate touch from his hands. He waits without question every time his master is away. This constancy proves a sacred bond of trust.
When I sculpted this piece, I was focused on representing MURPHY’S faithfulness, intelligence, and noble comportment. MURPHY is my 5th sculpture and my first bronze. This project continued growing in both size and detail as MURPHY’s dignified personality was captured in clay. I wanted MURPHY’S expression to express the patience and calmness of a senior Golden Retriever that is both brave and perceptive, hoping his proud countenance might encourage a pat from passers by. As he waits.
Biography:
After a career spanning nearly four decades in the luxury cosmetics industry, Laurel Dinney retired to Victoria, British Columbia, where purely out of curiosity she discovered a passion for sculpting. In 2019, encouraged by a friend, she attended a 5-day course led by Italian maestro Gabriele Vicari and Victoria artist David Hunwick, creating her first piece. She has since continued her studies with Vicari and Hunwick, completing a second intensive course working from a live model.
Laurel’s fifth and most major work, “MURPHY: Brave and Hospitable”, was completed in bronze in May 2022. It was exhibited at the Penticton Public Sculpture Exhibition, where it received a People’s Choice Award and at the Castlegar Sculpturewalk, where it was selected for lease by the City of Castlegar for the 2023-2024 season. In 2023, MURPHY was further recognized with selection for the White Rock P’Quals Promenade Sculpture Exhibition.
Her work “GENTLE SLUMBER – A Dream for Love & Peace” was completed in May 2023. Laurel is currently working on “Angel Fish,” a hybrid angel-mermaid sculpture that reflects her ongoing interest in imaginative and emotive subjects.
Laurel recently began exploring another creative avenue of expression through acrylic painting, following inspiration wherever it leads.
Location: 2239 Oak Bay Ave
For Sale Cost: SOLD
Sponsor: The Penny Farthing Pub | Vis-à-Vis
Reintegration
By Robert Turriff
Artistic Statement:
Reintegration is a figurative sculpture constructed from welded mild steel scraps, wire, and repurposed industrial materials. The form was assembled through an intuitive yet deliberate process of selecting and combining shapes—an intensive, laborious act of creation that reflects both control and spontaneity.
Drawing inspiration from the work of Japanese sculptor Hajime Sorayama, the piece moves toward a more organic, expressive direction. The surface is finished with hot-dip galvanization, lending both durability and a cohesive metallic skin that unifies the disparate elements.
At its core, the sculpture explores the idea of restoration—reconstructing a form toward an imagined original state. Twisted wire forms the underlying framework, an intricate tangle that serves as both structure and metaphor. From this network emerges a female figure, symbolizing strength through interconnectedness—both visible and unseen.
Biography:
Robert grew up exploring the forests of North Vancouver, where his fascination with plants and natural landscapes took root. This early connection to nature now informs his artistic practice, which centres on creating welded sculptures that often incorporate native plants. Robert’s work is grounded in community engagement and environmental stewardship, often involving local communities and youth in the design and creation process to foster a deeper connection with the natural world. His sculptures address pressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, technology, habitat encroachment, using art to inspire awareness and action.
Robert began his sculpting journey with a studio art diploma from Capilano University and later worked in the film industry, where he gained experience building diverse sets and learning from accomplished sculptors from Europe, the UK, and the USA. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Alberta, he transitioned from the film industry to focus on his own artistic practice. Now, he creates welded art, collaborates with renowned artists, and assists students at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
Location: Beach Dr at Landsdowne Rd
For Sale Cost: $12,000
Sponsor: Cork & Barrel Spirit Merchants
Tidal Axis
By Tonya Hart
Artistic Statement: The Tidal Series is inspired by the fluid patterns found within nature. Fluid design manifests throughout nature, not just in water, but also in air and rock. Fluid dynamics reveal momentum, force, and serve as inspiration for an ongoing series of paintings and sculptures. The sculpture installed in Oak Bay is Tidal Axis, named after the axis, formed with two plates of stainless steel incised with the pattern of the sun’s reflection on water. The axis represents symmetry of two identical halves and is a symbol of stability and structure. Structure and symmetry appear at odds with water’s constant state of flux, always shifting resisting shape, yet I see order in the chaos. I see a skeletal shape that hints to its underlying structure as a living force not bound by the shoreline.
Biography:
Tonya Hart is a Canadian artist based in Toronto. Her artwork is known for its use of light, energy, and magnetism to create a connection with the natural world. Her light-based sculptures vary in scale and aim to evoke the energy found within natural phenomena, Hart’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2018.
Location: Cadboro Bay Rd at Estevan Ave
For Sale Cost: $12,000
Sponsor: Prestige Picture Framing Etcetera | Barclay’s Fine Jewellers
Free to Love
By Louis Marc Simard
Biography:
I lived in Jonquiere, Quebec until I came out west to ski the legendary Rocky Mountains. That was 50 years ago. At 43, after a Visual Arts Certificate obtained from University of Quebec in Montreal, I was accepted at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and received a Bachelor Of Fine Arts degree in 2007.
I subsequently built a home and art studio in Salmon Arm, BC, where I had an art practice until 2014, when my professional life took a turn.
I moved to Revelstoke, BC, where I built and managed a small boutique hotel called “the Cube”, an innovative and hybrid establishment halfway between a hostel and a hotel. I sold that place in 2023.
I am back in my studio, with that same compulsive desire to draw and bring to life these useless, aimless and meaningless forms that constitute the essence of my understanding of the world!
Location: Henderson Recreation Centre 2291 Cedar Hill Cross Rd
For Sale Cost: Coming Soon
Sponsor: Oak Bay Tourism
Emergence
Artistic Statement:
Emergence is a life-sized allegorical sculpture that explores the relationship between human identity and the land from which it arises. The work presents a human face partially articulated through stone, suggesting a figure shaped as much by time and environment as by individual experience.
Rather than depicting the face as smooth or idealized, the sculpture incorporates crushed field stone directly into the surface. This geological texture reflects erosion, pressure, and accumulation—processes that parallel human growth and endurance. The face exists in a transitional state, neither fully formed nor fully absorbed, inviting reflection on how identity is formed, altered, and carried over time.
The work is a collaboration between sculptor Tim Kent and master stonemason Adam Kent. Tim sculpted and cast the face using prairie field stone embedded into the surface, while Adam built the body in locally sourced Vancouver Island stone. Together, the two material languages bring prairie and Pacific landscapes into a single form.
Positioned at eye level, the sculpture encourages an intimate, direct encounter. Viewers are invited to slow down, observe closely, and consider the shared materiality between body and landscape. In an outdoor setting, the work continues to respond to its environment, reinforcing the idea that identity is not fixed, but shaped over time through place, experience, and connection to the natural world.
Biography:
Tim Kent and Adam Kent are Métis Canadian artists whose collaborative practice brings together figurative sculpture and stonemasonry through a shared interest in material, place, and human presence. Their work on Emergence combines Tim’s figurative sculptural practice with Adam’s expertise as a master stonemason.
Tim is a sculptor working primarily in figurative and mixed-media sculpture. A self-taught artist, his practice focuses on portraiture, realism, and the relationship between human presence and land. His work often begins with direct observation and traditional sculptural methods, then expands through material experimentation and casting processes using clay, plaster, concrete, resin, and stone.
Adam is fifth-generation master stonemason. His practice is rooted in craftsmanship, integrity, and a deep passion for stone, with experience ranging from custom masonry to restorations. His approach emphasizes care, attention to detail, and the expressive potential of natural stone.
Together, their collaboration bridges sculptural portraiture and masonry, creating durable, tactile public work that invites close viewing and reflection.
Location: Causton’s Green – Hampshire Rd
For Sale Cost: $2,000
Sponsor: Adventure Clothing | Burt’s Barbershop
Participate
Sponsor
For $1600, an individual or a business can sponsor a sculpture and support our artists. Sponsor names are featured on the sculpture nameplate, in the Arts Alive brochure, and on the Arts Alive web page.
Donate
Help us to continue to increase the livability and artistic richness of our community by donating to the Mayors’ Art Legacy Fund, which seeks to make art accessible in public places, and creates a legacy for future generations. Donations to sustain this program are welcomed. Donations over $25 will receive a tax-deductible receipt.
Purchase
All of the current sculptures are for sale with possession date after the annual exhibition completes.
The 2026 Call for Artists is now closed.
