Coast artists Claudia Cuesta and Bill Baker unveiled their latest creation, a sculpture entitled Dancing Tower, last month in Surrey. The sculpture will provide the focal point for the entrance to the Newton Cultural Centre. Much of the aluminum and tempered glass structure was fabricated on the Coast with the colourful glass panels applied on site.

The sculpture is a metaphor for the dynamic movement of dance and the flowing nature of creativity, said the artists. Standing on the busy highway in the open air, it will give the appearance of movement in response to the rhythms of the sun, clouds and environment.

Cuesta was born in Colombia and has a degree from the Slade School of Art at the University College of London. She has exhibited her work in Canada and internationally. Baker was born in Ontario, studied art history at the Sorbonne, Paris, and now works as an urban designer and residential designer.

“I integrate art with architecture,” he said.

The two collaborate on public art projects, usually large ones, under their company name art.site. They have lived in Sechelt for the past 11 years and both are members of Sechelt’s Arts and Heritage Advisory Committee. Because of the lack of a Coast public art program, the couple have turned to making their art in other communities such as Richmond and North Vancouver.

Opening night for the Newton Cultural Centre was fantastic, said Cuesta. Local youth choreographed a dance piece inspired by the sculpture and performed it for the audience. Surrey provided $1.5 million to renovate a decommissioned fire hall and turn it into the new centre. It incorporates a gallery for local visual artists, a studio for performing arts rehearsals, a multi-purpose room for meetings and various offices and support spaces.