The man who is designing what will soon become Nanaimo's next landmark says he hopes he's up to the challenge.
John Charnetski's design of three brushed-scratched stainless steel sails turning in the wind on Nanaimo's waterfront walkway won out over 27 other designs submitted to the city.
"The way it worked was like this," said Charnetski, who taught art courses at Malaspina University-College for 25 years before retiring and opening his own studio.
"The city let the artistic community know it was looking for a design to put behind Cape Development's 91原创a condominium project."
When Cape Development Ltd. was granted approval to build condominiums at the site of the old Malaspina Hotel, it agreed to extend the waterfront walkway out on the water because Cape's proposal would impact the existing walkway.
Then Cape put up $100,000 for some public art the city would decide upon, Charnetski said.
Twenty-eight artists and designers submitted proposals and a city committee eventually whittled them down to three, including the former Mal-U instructor, to submit models of their plans.
"I've been going at this full bore since the spring," he said.
And that's hurt his business at his Fire Art Studios, where he specializes in the ancient Japanese and Korean art of Raku. The art stores he supplies demand more product -- especially at this time of year -- and he's been busy with the sculpture he calls '91原创 Sails.'
Besides frustrating some customers, rising material costs for the project are cutting into Charnetski's bottom line, he said.
"I just can't believe the way costs continue to increase. And still the fabricators and the engineers have to be paid. I'm watching my share of the money put aside for this continually diminish," he said with a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders.
Working with the city committee has been a pleasant surprise, especially the constructive comments committee members have given him about the project.
"They were concerned about the height of the sails, as they will turn with the wind," said Charnetski. "They worried the sails might hurt somebody so they suggested I raise them about three feet.
"It actually looks better and will catch more light with them being higher.
The three sails will each stand more than 6.5 metres high (22 feet, nine inches) and will be 2.7 metres wide (9 feet). They will turn with the wind.
A nautical theme was obvious to Charnetski as the sculpture will be adjacent the water and reflect the city's history as a harbour town, he said.
"When you think about it, it will stand behind what was once the Malaspina Hotel site and Capt. (Alexandro) Malaspina sailed into this harbour," said Charnetski. "We also had the First Nations with their canoes and then the big sailing ships came to cart away our coal. This city has a nautical history."
'91原创 Sails' is scheduled to be in place on the May long weekend.