Buttress Runnels (2008)

Susan A. Point

Richmond Olympic Oval, 6111 River Rd.

Area: Olympic Oval Precinct
Location: Integrated into the 15 buttress runnels on the north (riverside) side of the building.

Materials: Concrete architectural feature.

Program: Civic
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: City of Richmond

Description of Work

The relief work in the concrete buttresses reflects the First Nations and environmental history of the site. The buttresses are part of the Olympic Oval's drainage system and carry water from the roof to the Riverside Plaza.

Artist Statement

The Fraser River was central to the Sto’lo, whose name in Salish means “People of the River”. The river had economic, social and spiritual meaning to the Coast Salish people. It allowed the aboriginal people of the coast to trade with the people of the interior of British Columbia. It was also the main travelling route for family gatherings; strengthening the connections between the Salish settlements on its banks. This artwork is a dedication to the Fraser River, on whose shores my people have lived and prospered for countless generations.

The artwork incorporates a series of positive and negative elements and, like the river itself, will change with the seasons. Each design includes the heron as a central image – a symbol used by the City of Richmond. The heron is also a prominent bird figure featuring in many legends told by my elders and often seen on traditional Salish implements.

The third element in my design depicts contemporary salmon, which symbolically represents the delta. The salmon populating the river were a form of wealth, sustenance for our peoples, and used in trade with other tribes. As ‘the giver of life’ the salmon is also often carved in pairs as a symbol of luck, and today the salmon provides nourishment for the many cultures that have chosen British Columbia as their home. The salmon is carved in relief, emerging from the water as it flows through the channels between them.