Installation of a major public art project near City Hall in 2026

May 20, 2025

The City of Edmundston's Arts and Culture Department is officially announcing the selection of a new public art project following a highly competitive call for applications.

In the fall of 2023, the giant sculptures created by the late sculptor Albert Deveau between 1986 and 1991 had to be removed because they were too fragile. Time had unfortunately taken its toll on these large sculptures made of white pine and elm, despite regular maintenance. At that point, the City Council mandated the Arts and Culture Department to work on a project that would pay tribute both to Edmundston's history and to Mr Deveau's legacy. A national public art competition was launched in February, with a budget of $80,000.

A committee made up of Philippe Volpé, history and heritage specialist; Jeremy Bellefleur, civil engineering technician; Emilie Grace Lavoie, visual arts professional; Annie Côté, municipal representative; and Kim Savage, architect, was responsible for making the selection, following an in-depth analysis of the six applications received.

The selected artist, Gérald Beaulieu, is proposing a large-scale sculptural work that highlights the very essence of the Edmundston-Madawaska region, at the crossroads of forests and borders, and a dynamic cultural and artistic breeding ground.

Originally from Welland, Ontario, and now based in Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Gérald Beaulieu is a Canadian visual artist renowned for his monumental sculptures and site-specific installations dealing with environmental, social and political issues. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design (1987), he has exhibited more than 80 times in Canada, the United States and Europe. His work can be found in prestigious collections, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Confederation Centre Art Gallery. He has also received numerous awards, including from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Prince Edward Island Arts Council.

This work of public art aims to create an accessible space for encounters and discovery. By highlighting the region's distinctive and contemporary heritage, it will help to strengthen its cultural appeal. The 6 m x 4 m work will be installed in spring 2026, following preparation of the site and the creative work, with a view to an official inauguration in May 2026.

"We are delighted that a new work of art will be installed where Albert Deveau's fabulous sculptures have stood for decades. Gérald Beaulieu's contemporary work is a fine nod to the geography and history of Edmundston," explains Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis.

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CONTACT: Annie Côté, Director, Arts and Culture, 506.739.2104, annie.cote@edmundston.ca