42 Seagulls by Jason Skinner is one of many public artworks installed across the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Jason Skinner, 2022
Collage using found magazines from the Library's discarded materials rack, printed on acrylic
Alderney Gate Public Library
About the artwork
Dartmouth based artist, Jason Skinner’s proposal for 42 Seagulls was selected from a pool of submissions from local and international artists for a new public artwork as part of the Alderney Gate Library renovations. Installed in the summer of 2022, the artist created 42 seagulls through collage made from bits and pieces of the library’s discarded materials rack and installed in Alderney Gate Atrium.
“Gulls, like Maritimers, mostly live in large, packed colonies, and are incredibly adaptable, resourceful, and inquisitive. Unlike other migratory birds, gulls don’t typically fly in formation - they are a flock of individuals that benefit by sticking together. Gulls survive on what the sea provides them, or they make use of what they can find on the shore. And, like true Maritimers, they are not above getting a little scrappy to protect the treasure found in another’s trash.” (Jason Skinner)
The multi-disciplinary artist and award-winning illustrator has a passion for public engagement working in and with community creating temporary and permanent public murals projects across the municipality and province. Skinner’s playful approach and comfort working in public settings prompted us to launch the gulls with a public art workshop as part of Nocturne 2022 where members of the public could come and make their own seagulls from scrap magazines made available by the library in a similar fashion to how the artist created the original art piece. You can visit the 42 gulls now from the newly renovated entrance to Alderney Gate Library.
About the artist
Jason Skinner is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning artist based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He has been creating works professionally for over 20 years. He takes great joy in making public art experiences that employ humour and humility to leave a simple, but lasting impression.