NEWS RELEASE
TOWN OF NEWMARKET
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On Sept. 26, the Town of Newmarket officially unveiled its Community Living Room, a new public art installation inspired by former Mayor Tony Van Bynen who held his Mayor in the Square public engagement sessions in Downtown Newmarket during his 12 years as Mayor and a total of 18 years in office.
“I am very excited to unveil Newmarket’s new public art installation, Newmarket’s Community Living Room,” says Mayor John Taylor. “The Community Living Room recognizes Tony Van Bynen’s significant achievement in public service in Newmarket. Tony was always an advocate for downtown Newmarket and it is only fitting that we have a permanent art piece in recognition of his many significant contributions to our community.”
“Riverwalk Commons is the perfect gathering place and it’s great to see that we have a terrific new art display to commemorate what we accomplished as a community,” says Member of Parliament (Newmarket-Aurora) and former Newmarket Mayor, Tony Van Bynen. “I appreciate the recognition and I want to say that I have been the fortunate steward of this great community during my time as Mayor of Newmarket. I hope that this new public art installation will inspire new friendships and conversations for many years to come.”
A Community Living Room was chosen as the public art piece in the downtown area because a living room plays a vital role in every home. The living room is a place where family and friends connect, socialize, relax, laugh and create lasting memories. Newmarket’s vibrant Main Street and welcoming historic downtown serves as the living room and heart of the community.
The Community Living Room art pieces were created by Edward Falkenberg, RCA, and feature stunning life-sized granite sculptures of a three-seat sofa, two arm chairs, two side tables and a coffee table. As a tribute to former Mayor Tony Van Bynen, on the coffee table rests a bronze cast of Van Bynen’s “famous” leather cap, two bronze old-school cellphones and a book of puns – which pays homage to Van Bynen’s ability to deliver puns at any occasion.
The Community Living Room will act as a meeting space for residents and friends to enjoy, engage in conversation and forge new friendships.
To view an archived video of the unveiling, visit Newmarket’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/TownofNewmarket.
About Sculptor Edward Falkenberg
Sculptor Edward Falkenberg RCA, attended the Ontario College of Art and graduated with honours from Industrial Design. He has participated in numerous solo and group art exhibitions over many years.
Falkenberg is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). Since 1880 the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts has represented Canada’s most distinguished visual artists and designers.
Falkenberg's work is held in several notable corporate collections including Imperial Oil in Alberta, Orfus Investments in Ontario, and the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Falkenberg’s works in Ontario include among others, a 42-foot-long cherry-wood mural at one of Cadillac Fairview’s developments in Toronto and installations at Pickering Town Centre, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and now at Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons.
Learn more by visiting Edward Falkenberg’s website.
