October 22, 2012
emptyful Makes a Splash
Locally, Nationally and Internationally
October 22, 2012 – Winnipeg – When emptyful opened along with the renovated Millennium Library Park, no one quite anticipated the splash it would make.
The new work by Vancouver artist Bill Pechet was created through the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Public Art Program as part of the Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada designation, and has gotten attention from local, national and international media.
The Winnipeg Arts Council has received requests for information from travel and design magazines as far away France (Courrier International), Germany (Studio5555), and Russia (Afisha Mir), and the piece has been highlighted on countless blogs and websites across the world.
Recently the Discovery Channel show Daily Planet also aired a segment about the work.
“You always hope your work will make an impression, that it will interest people, but this was unexpected,” said Bill Pechet who was in and out of Winnipeg countless times during the creation of the work. “emptyful’s not quite a Justin Bieber phenom, but close!” he joked.
The 11 meter high stainless steel sculpture has been winterized for the season, so the water and fog have been turned off. People can enjoy the lights which have been set to warm colours to cheer the park in the winter months and act as a giant downtown hearth.
“I’m thrilled but not surprised,” said Tricia Wasney, Manager of Public Art for the Winnipeg Arts Council of the attention and accolades bestowed upon emptyful. “The work is iconic, mysterious and playful. It will be a calling card for Winnipeg in the years to come.”
For more information about emptyful or the Winnipeg Public Art Program visit www.winnipegarts.ca/publicart.
Full press kit can be found at www.winnipegarts.ca/emptyful/