An expanded and updated Mosaic Map of Ashcroft, with details and photographs of 19 sites around town containing more than 60 pieces of mosaic and glass artwork, is now available from Community Futures Sun Country (CFSC), and will be distributed to other venues—including all visitor centres in the region—during spring 2019.
The first edition of the map was produced over the winter of 2016/17, detailing 11 sites and two dozen mosaics, and 700 copies were produced. It was never intended to be an exhaustive list of all the mosaics in Ashcroft; CFSC general manager Deb Arnott explained at the time that the map was designed so that it could be updated and reprinted as more mosaics were installed.
The second edition features many of the mosaics from the first map, as well as more than a dozen sites which have been added since then, including the Harmony Bell Tower at the Heritage Park on Railway Avenue. Each entry has full colour pictures, as well as a description of the mosaic and its backstory.
Arnott says she was amazed by how many mosaics there are on the map. “More than 60 mosaics—incredible!” she says with a laugh, adding that she was talking with Marina Papais and Daniel Collett—the designers and/or creators of many of the mosaics, and the driving force behind them—about their future plans.
“They started to list a whole bunch more that are in the works. Marina said people approach them, or drop by their studio at the HUB to see them, and they have a list of projects lined up. There’s no way they can do them all in 2019. I’m already thinking about a third edition—it’s really exciting!”
Arnott says that with so many more mosaics installed since the first edition of the map came out, she saw a good opportunity to do a second one. Wendy Coomber was hired to take the photographs, and the design and layout was done by Hayley Fulton. The Village of Ashcroft paid for the production and printing costs.
“We got a quote and went to [CAO] Michelle [Allen], and she said they would find the funds,” says Arnott. “Community Futures did the rest.
“The community involvement in the mosaics has been really huge. People are thinking of subjects to build mosaics around, such as history. So many people want to be involved, and it’s taken on a life of its own. We wanted to support them, and find the money to support them [via the map], and bring people to our area. That’s where a regional Chamber of Commerce would help, in marketing different aspects of the community.”
Arnott says she’s noticed a change since the first mosaic map was published in early 2017.
“The first year, visitors would come and say ‘What’s there to do around here?’ And someone would say to them ‘Have you had an opportunity to see the mosaics?’ Now people are so, so proud of them: ‘You have to go to the Chinese cemetery, you have to see the Harmony Bell.’ Locals are talking about the mosaics and really selling them.”
The second edition of the Ashcroft Mosaic Map is available at the Community Futures Sun Country office on Railway Avenue. Copies are available 24/7 in the box outside the office, but Arnott says that people are welcome to drop by the office during regular hours to get a copy, for themselves or others: “We hope people will send them to friends and relatives.” It is also available on the Village of Ashcroft website (www.ashcroftbc.ca).
“The mosaics have really taken off in our community. People have really bought into them, and are really proud of them. We’ve got a lot to offer here, and a lot to be proud of.”
editorial@accjournal.ca
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