Driving through St. Thomas, you might notice a striking new display that has been recently installed. The city has unveiled a large 25-foot, 10,000lb sculpture at the entrance to Yarmouth Yards, its newly developed industrial park. Referred to as the Imagination Station, the artwork celebrates St. Thomas’ heritage as Canada’s Railway City.
The artist behind this vibrant creation is Briony Douglas from Toronto. In an interview with guest host Nav Nanwa on CBC Radio’s Afternoon Drive, Douglas shared her vision for the sculpture. She expressed that the Imagination Station aims to inspire hope, creativity, and happiness. Drawing inspiration from her childhood memories of a toy wooden train, Douglas designed the sculpture to evoke a sense of nostalgia and joy.
The project took approximately a year to complete, with collaboration and approval processes with the city authorities. Douglas highlighted the juxtaposition of the colorful and whimsical sculpture in an industrial setting, emphasizing the impact of bringing smiles to people’s faces amidst their daily routines.
Although the Imagination Station marks Douglas’ first permanent public sculpture, she is no stranger to creating monumental artworks. Her previous projects include a giant hockey helmet made from original women’s teams’ hockey sticks, now housed in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The positive reception of her creations, especially from children, continues to motivate Douglas to spread happiness and whimsy through her art.
The unveiling of the Imagination Station was met with enthusiasm from the community, with the mayor joining in the celebration. Douglas finds joy in witnessing children’s unfiltered reactions to her work, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder and joy in everyday life, a sentiment that resonates strongly in her artistic endeavors.