Local artist Diane Roy is excited to have one of her latest public art creations on display in North Delta.
The large textile wall art, which was officially unveiled on Thursday, March 3, was commissioned by Vancity Credit Union for its branch at 72 Avenue and Scott Road in North Delta.
The inspiration for the piece – made from recycled string and painted foil – came from the bee hives Roy's husband keeps in their backyard.
Although most of Roy's textile work is sculpture, this particular seven-by-eight-foot piece of wall art stretched her creativity and weaving skills.
“My husband is a bee keeper and he has shown me a lot of the frames and activities,” she said. "I guess over the years that inspired me.”
Originally from Quebec, Roy finds inspiration and motivation from the natural world around her. Since moving to B.C. in 1986, her work has been exhibited throughout the Lower Mainland and overseas.
Her favourite medium has been textiles, but recently she has been experimenting with recycled material such as commercial fishing nets and branches found outdoors.
“I often take walks through nature and I’ll see things,” Roy said. “Often it becomes clear to me that this one thing could become a sculpture.”
“It’s our goal to support local artists’” said Vancity's North Delta branch manager Rup Sumal said it's the financial institution's goal to support local artists and added Roy's sculpture is a metaphor for North Delta.
"Bees work together, just like our community," Sumal said.