CENTENNIAL LEGACY ART PIECE INTRODUCED IN YORKTON

Released on December 6, 2005

Residents, visitors and travelers passing through Saskatchewan's eastern gateway community of Yorkton have another reason to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Lionel Auburn Peyachew's centennial art piece entitled "Doorways to Opportunity" was recently installed as a centennial gift from the province. As one of four centennial artworks to be installed in gateway communities, "Doorways to Opportunity" draws on many characteristics of the province and surrounding communities.

"These four art pieces are gifts for the entire province to enjoy," Saskatchewan Centennial Chair and Moose Jaw North MLA Glenn Hagel said. "We're pleased that Yorkton has agreed to be the host community for this centennial legacy art piece, which will welcome many visitors to our province, and remind our residents of our incredible centennial year."

In the coming weeks, three other legacy art pieces will be introduced in La Ronge, Lloydminster and Estevan. On behalf of Saskatchewan Centennial 2005, the Saskatchewan Arts Board conducted the call for artists, administered the adjudication process and worked with the artists through the project. La Ronge will be the host community for Chris St. Amand's "Portage". Canada's only border city, Lloydminster, will be home to Douglas Bentham's "Sky Dance" and Estevan receives Jefferson Little's "Spinning Prairie". Each piece showcases the diversity of Saskatchewan's artistic community and highlights different characteristics of our province and the host communities.

"Art is an important method of defining ourselves and expressing ourselves as proud Saskatchewan people," Saskatchewan Arts Board Executive Director Jeremy Morgan said. "Through these artworks, Saskatchewan residents and visitors will come to learn more about our unique identity as they experience the emotion that only art can inspire."

"Doorways to Opportunity" is an installation measuring approximately eight feet high and 20 feet in diameter. It is a piece that invites people to walk around it, examine it in detail, and even walk right through it. The City of Yorkton will be responsible for the piece, which has been installed in Shaw Park.

"I have enjoyed working with the City of Yorkton on this centennial project," Peyachew said. "The spiral represents the scroll of time, and in Saskatchewan's second century I'm confident Yorkton and the province will open even more doorways to opportunity."

Additional information about the art installation, including photos, is available on Saskatchewan Centennial 2005's website at www.sask2005.ca.

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For More Information, Contact:

Chris Shauf Saskatchewan Centennial 2005 Regina Phone: (306) 787-1254 Cell: (306) 530-5775