Dangerous eyesores they may be, but what if abandoned boats littering the Sunshine Coast鈥檚 waters were transformed into public artworks, drawing tourists instead of repelling them?
This is the vision of Gordon Halloran, a Roberts Creek artist who has the ear of local politicians and who is seeking funding to bring his concept to life.
Halloran sees potential in some of the 25 derelict boats in Porpoise Bay, the dozen in the Pender Harbour region, as well as a cluster in West Howe Sound. He has spoken to local tourist organizations and has found support among directors from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) as well as the mayor of Sechelt.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we can deal with all the boats on the west coast of Canada in this way, but I think it allows us some educational moments,鈥� said Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne.
While a specific artistic direction is still in the works, one option is to create a 鈥淔lotilla of Dazzle.鈥� Repurposed boats would pay tribute to the ships of the First World War decked out in dazzle camouflage, a style of intersecting geometric shapes that turn ships into evasive targets. The freshly dazzled boats could reflect the country鈥檚 peacekeeping efforts, said Halloran.
He also sees potential in applying lighting to boats in Porpoise Bay, and in the case of larger vessels, making art spaces in their interiors. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 the shape and form, sometimes it鈥檚 the way they have decayed, the colouring, the flaking off, the ephemeral nature of the boat. People can see it鈥檚 damaged but it also has a certain beauty to it,鈥� he said.
Halloran鈥檚 vision extends far beyond the Coast 鈥� he wants to see vessels placed across Canada, such as in Toronto or the Ottawa canal, as well as internationally. In the meantime, he sees the Sunshine Coast as the project 鈥渓aboratory.鈥�
For Milne, the project could entice tourists to visit the Coast. 鈥淚 really do think it would be a magnet for the international art community,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen smaller projects than this take off.鈥�
Frank Mauro, director for Pender Harbour/Egmont, supports the project as a preferred alternative to disposal. 鈥淚 see Gordon鈥檚 vision as something to help deal with the problem we鈥檝e accumulated so far,鈥� he said, adding that public engagement will be a necessary component. 鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be a process. I can鈥檛 just say, 鈥榊eah, Gordon, let鈥檚 paint up some boats鈥欌�� Everybody鈥檚 got to be on board with it.鈥�
In early March, the federal government announced the District of Sechelt will receive $70,000 to assess 14 boats through its abandoned boats program, and the Pender Harbour Advisory Council received $10,000 from the same funding source. The deadline for a second round of funding was March 15. Applicants will be able to apply for a third round for assessing, removing and disposing of small boats from April 3 to March 31, 2019.
Milne is hopeful successful future grants would afford some spending flexibility. 鈥淚f we can guarantee there鈥檚 no derelict boat at the end of the day, I don鈥檛 think they鈥檇 care if it鈥檚 in the landfill or if it鈥檚 a piece of art.鈥� Halloran, Mauro and Milne also suggested arts funding and private sponsorships could offset costs. 鈥淚 think there would be interest with private funding or maybe with Heritage Canada for some artistic top-up, depending on where the boats are going,鈥� said Milne.
Halloran was Canada鈥檚 official representative at the Cultural Olympiad for the 2006 Olympics Winter Games in Turin, Italy. His local art includes Regeneration, a sculpture of charred cedar on display outside the Sechelt Visitor Centre. As for boat art, he said it鈥檚 the opportunity to take a creative approach to the problem that inspires him. 鈥淚t can be a grind to keep at this when it鈥檚 in the beginning stages, to convince people it鈥檚 worthwhile, but that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about.鈥�
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