The latest art installation in Jackson Park was unveiled Tuesday.
The You + Me Chairs sculpture, featuring two seven-foot-high 'Windsor Style' chairs, took nearly 10 years to come to fruition.
The concept was originally envisioned in 2012 by artist Laura Shintani as a way to honour Windsor's relationship with its sister cities.
You + Me Chairs sculpture unveiled in Jackson Park, November 2, 2021. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
“We always liked the vision of two large chairs positioned to encourage folks to climb into them and take pictures, and to sit and have a conversation,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who chaired the International Relations Committee when the project first received the green light. “This is a wonderful addition to Jackson Park and to the City’s impressive and diverse public art collection, and the City thanks the artists, donors and partners who worked to bring this vision to life.”
Local sculptor Mark Williams and his wife Laura took over the project years later to get it over the finish line.
"It's something to bring people to the park, another feature and I think it brings people together. It brings joy to people and that's what art is supposed to do," said Laura Williams. "This is joy and fun and youth. I think that's what it will bring out in a lot of people."
The project cost about $120,000. It was funded through contributions from the International Relations Committee, the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland and the city's Public Art Endowment Fund.
