New sculpture by David Fels unveiled
Members of the media are invited to join The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, as he announces the opening of the 2014 International Summit on Accessibility with the unveiling of David Fels’ sculpture “Inclusivity.”
Carleton University, with support from the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa, is holding the International Summit on Accessibility at the Ottawa Convention Centre. The summit embraces the positive progress in creating accessible and inclusive communities and brings together a diverse leadership collective to share achievement and create action. The conference promotes access and inclusion for persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Ottawa Convention Centre
“The Ottawa Convention Centre is proud to be hosting the International Summit on Accessibility in 2014.” said Patrick Kelly, President and CEO of Ottawa Convention Centre. “As a facility that is fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the OCC is looking forward to exercising our building’s accessibility features for our guests attending the summit. As the host venue, the OCC is honored to be the home of David Fels’ magnificent sculpture.”
Fels has completed work on a second beautiful piece from the Brighton Beach Oak, a majestic 300-year-old tree. The tree had been deteriorating for many years and attempts to extend its life by City of Ottawa officials proved unsuccessful. The tree had to be removed from its home in Old Ottawa South in mid-2011.
The first sculpture – Sailing Through Time – now stands in the lobby of Carleton’s River Building as a symbol of its commitment to accessibility, as well as a tribute to the 25th Anniversary of Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour and the launch of Carleton’s READ Initiative (Research, Education, Accessibility and Design).
“Normally I have a number of ideas or concepts swirling around in my mind and the Paul Menton Centre wanted a piece on inclusivity and accessibility, an idea I’ve been grappling with over the years,” said Fels. “Having done the first sculpture, it helps in doing this second one. I know a bit of the nature of the tree, how the branches attach and how much rot, if any, may be in it.”
This new section of the oak was solid right through and 14 feet in length. It has been transformed into a stylized take on the infinity symbol, demonstrating that the work to achieve an accessible and inclusive world is ongoing.
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