Artist Installs Huge Sculpture of an Ear on Waterfront

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CORP.--Artist Installs Huge Sculpture of an Ear on Waterfront

A local artist will install a huge sculpture of an ear on the Halifax waterfront today, Sept. 11.

Waterfront Development Corporation Limited said An Ear to the Sky is a three-metre (10-foot) sculpture of an ear that will be anchored in the water along the boardwalk at the foot of Morris Street near Tall Ships Quay.

The sculpture will appear to be listening to the harbour's ambient sounds. It will also transmit the sounds of the harbour to a headset located on the wharf and will absorb all audio waves in its vicinity.

The corporation was approached by artist Ilan Sandler, who wanted to secure a location along the waterfront to help people appreciate and understand what happens beneath the water's surface of Halifax Harbour.

The piece will be available for viewing, and listening, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. until Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1971, Mr. Sandler emigrated with his family to Toronto in 1977, where he lived for the next 20 years. He earned a bachelor of science from the University of Toronto, an honours fine arts certificate from the Ontario College of Art and Design, and a master's degree in fine arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. His giant lawn chair, Double Storey, is currently on view at the Toronto Sculpture Garden. He also has installations currently on display in St. Louis, Mo. and Philadelphia, Pa.

After living in the U.S. for six years he recently moved to Halifax.

He is a cross-disciplinary artist who works with digital media and industrial materials to build time-based installations and sculpture.