A rhinoceros with dreams of flight has been immortalized in mixed metals as the newest piece of public art in Collingwood now installed in Tremont Square off Simcoe Street.
The sculpture – which was unveiled officially on Thursday night – was commissioned by the Town of Collingwood to Toronto-based artist W.W. Hung. Called Dare to Dream, the sculpture contains three main elements: a curved, stainless steel arc to represent a rainbow, a cast aluminum rhinoceros, a lesser-known symbol of LGBTQ resistance that dates back to the 1970s, and eight balloons to represent eight colours of the original pride flag created by Gilbert Baker dating back to 1978.
“The theme of the piece is diversity and inclusion. It’s a celebration of LGBTQ2S+ life,” said Hung on Thursday night. “The themes are very close and dear to my heart as a member of the LGBTQ community. It was a perfect opportunity for me to do something with those themes, and a way to give back to the community that means so much to me.”
“I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and it’s so wonderful to see in place,” he said.
While Hung is based in Toronto, he has plans to come back regularly to Collingwood to visit his piece and spend time in a town he feels has made great strides toward inclusivity.
“I’ve spoken to so many people who live here in Collingwood. Having friends here, I feel like I’m a small part of the community. It’s great. Everyone has been so welcoming, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive which I’m so grateful for,” said Hung.
The original call to artists for the project went out in 2021. A group of residents, town staff and representatives from The Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay worked together to select the proposal and see it through.
“I am over-the-moon ecstatic,” Dr. John Miller, president of The Rainbow Club of South Georgian Bay, said on Thursday. “I think Collingwood was behind the times, and now we are ahead of the game. We’re like a beacon, and there’s a spotlight on Collingwood. We are an example of what every town should be in terms of support and being open to diversity.”
“It’s amazing. This represents more than just an aesthetic piece for Collingwood,” said Miller.
