The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Sculpture a look of unity It is simply a concept now, a small wax prototype its humble beginning, but before the year is out, D‘Alessandro‘s magnificent homage to Canada‘s diverse culturâ€" al makeup, will be on permanent display in our town. Domenico D‘Alessandro is one busy guy but he found the time to create something beautiful and lastâ€" ing for others. By KATHY YANCHUS Oakville Beaver Staff The 37â€"yearâ€"old D‘Alessandro is the Toronto multiâ€"media artist whose sculpture was chosen to grace the Cowan Avenue Pedestrian Plaza on Kerr Street, a work of art expected to be unveiled ‘ in November. To be created in either fibreglass or bronze, the sculpture encomâ€" passed for the selection committee the multiâ€"cultural fabric of the area, as well as the ‘spirit of the commisâ€" sion‘ which is to draw people to the proposed meeting place. The sculpture, as yet untitled, features three amorphous figures representing past, present and future generations embracing each other through time. The figures can also be interpreted as unfolding flower petals with the conical form of nests â€" symbols of life and home. Birdlike creatures flying from the chests of the figures represent the hopes and aspirations inside everyâ€" one. "When we put down roots, each one of us carries with us hopes and aspirations that we hope take flight," says D‘Alessandro. "They (hopes and dreams) are liberated in this land where it is possible for everyone to pursue and realize them. Canada is recognized historically as a haven for the perseâ€" cuted and mistreated â€" where life may be lived in peace and freeâ€" dom." The approximately eightâ€"foot high sculpture will be supplemented by either a fountain or garden, both symbols of life and the reâ€"generaâ€" tion of life, he adds. THREE GENERATIONS Multiâ€"media artist Domenico D‘Alessandro with a wax replica of the sculpture which will grace the Cowan Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. For the jury committee, D‘Alessandro‘s proposal best represented the cultural mosaic of the Kerr Street arca. (Photo by Peter McCusker) D‘ Alessandro submitted a proâ€" posal for the project because of its dedication to multiâ€"culturalism, a ‘cause‘ close to his heart. "Usually a sculpture is dedicated to a specific deed or person or act," says D‘Alessandro, adding that the project‘s other appeal for him was a chance to regenerate a part of the BERGER MOSS town which "needs some help in aesthetics." D‘Alessandro says he didn‘t want to emphasize any one ethnic group or groups because "throughâ€" out time, neighbourhoods change." "The aim of it is to have a place that one could identify with...It would be nice if it (the sculpture) Asst. colours. Flat of 12 boxes FRESH IN DAILY GERANIUM, SPIKE FERN TERRA STONE Asst. Colours 10" Pot 18 kg. BAG The sculpture will begin as a styâ€" rofoam model to be cast in either fibreglass or bronze and assembled at the site. Although D‘Alessandro has parâ€" ticipated in collaborative public murals before, this represents his first solo commission. A landscape architect by trade, with an eclectic collection of artistic talents, he feels it was his visual arts background which gave him the edge over other artists who submitted proposals. "I don‘t think one chooses it. It‘s just there," he says. A fulltime student in Sheridan College‘s summer computer animaâ€" tion program â€" technology he will use in landscape architecture proâ€" jects "so people can ‘walk through‘ plans" â€" he also writes poems and short stories and is collaborating on a novel/opera/play project with a friend. could be a symbol of the area. That would be great." "I feel I have the benefit of both worlds. I have the benefit of the artistic process and the knowledge to carry out the construction and deal with the engineering probâ€" lems." D‘Alessandro received his Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Guelph, where he is a sessional instructor in landscape architecture; his Visual Arts Honors BA from the University of Ottawa and his diploâ€" ma in Fine Arts from the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence. (Among his local landscape design projects are the Vaishnu Devi Temple as well as several private residences.) Connie James, a member of the jury committee, says for her, there was no competition; D‘Alessandra‘s sculpture stood out above all others. The son of farmers, who immiâ€" grated to this country from Italy, D‘Alessandro is unaware of where his intense artistic nature originates. "It‘ s very pleasing to the eye. The three figures could represent a family or nation. It‘s a look of unity," says the owner of Kerr Street‘s CC James. GARDEN TREAT CANADA RED MULCH 3 cubic feet