The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre and Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro are delighted to unveil the winners of the 2023 NOTL Hydro Box Beautification Competition. This annual competition spotlights Niagara Region’s talent as they vie to transform three of the town’s hydro boxes into captivating works of art. This year’s competition marks its 5th year, bringing the total number of beautified hydro boxes to an impressive 15.
“Art has the power to unite communities. Public art plays a vital role in enhancing the cultural vibrancy of our communities.” noted Rima Boles, Art Centre Director at the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre. “Through this competition, we have witnessed the incredible talent of our local artists and the passion of our community members who participated in the People’s Choice vote. It’s a testament to the enduring role of art in enriching our lives.”
Artists from across the Niagara Region were invited to participate, infusing their unique perspectives into the design theme, which encompassed elements of nature, the rich history and landmarks of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and more. This year, there was a particular emphasis on submissions exploring the theme of transportation, as well as artworks that harmoniously complemented the hydro box locations.
The community enthusiastically participated by casting their votes for the People’s Choice award. Darrell McCalla emerged as this year’s winner for his artwork titled “Transportation,” which will be installed in the hydro box along the Niagara River Recreational Trail at the Field House.
A panel of distinguished jurors faced the challenging task of evaluating the submissions and selecting two exceptional designs that captured this year’s theme. The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre and Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro extend their heartfelt congratulations to the juried award winners:
- Shelley Locke, for their artwork titled “Sunset Voyage”
- Lynn Weiner, for their artwork titled “Lake Sailing”
The official announcement of the winning designs took place during a special ceremony on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 7:00 PM. Each winner was presented with a $500 cheque by Tim Curtis, courtesy of NOTL Hydro, in recognition of their outstanding artistic accomplishments. The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre and Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro express their sincere congratulations to the winners and extend their appreciation to all the participating artists.
The group exhibit featuring all the entries to this year’s competition is still on view through October 21, 2023. The winning artworks are scheduled to be transferred to the selected hydro boxes in late fall, and the community is encouraged to stay tuned for this exciting transformation.
About Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre
The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre is the art hub that connects our community by providing art for all. Located on the banks of the Niagara River in a heritage building that formerly supplied water to Niagara-on-the-Lake (hence our name); the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre offers visual arts programs, exhibitions and events. We give back to the community by providing access to the arts for those in need.
About Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro
Niagara-on-the-Lake Hydro distributes power to 10,000 customers in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We are committed to operating as a sustainable high-performance, customer-driven business and to providing the highest standard in safety, service and reliability. The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is the 100% shareholder of the corporation.
