The current art exhibition on top of the pedestals takes its name from The Miss Kelowna Ladies of the Lake pageant, a long-standing tradition and a crowd favourite feature event of the Kelowna Regatta that started in 1931.
The Ladies of the Lake, both the above-mentioned sculpture and the entire project, were designed by Valerioti. He fashioned some old mannequins from his client’s art studio into a triptych—a diving and undulating woman enjoying the serenity of water and the stunning views of Lake Okanagan. This transformation ultimately replicated the image his client had of herself in her dreamscape.
The mannequin(s) appear to be diving into water, as the pedestal toppers are filled with river rock and covered in blue tennis balls, giving the illusion of moving water. The tennis balls were “an invention of necessity” says Valerioti. “I had originally sourced coloured glass to fill the pedestals, but the amount required was too cost prohibitive so I found a playful and more cost-effective solution. I ordered a lot of blue tennis balls, but the results are magical and surprising.”
The landscape design
The landscape design integrated round pavers embedded in pea pebble and black river rock, and black rubber mulch with white rock elements to evoke a yin and yang motif. With a blend of contrasting materials, the circular pavers and meticulously arranged white rocks suggest the iconic symbol, while the black rubber mulch complements the design. Moreover, the use of the black rubber mulch extends beyond esthetics, by being environmentally friendly and low maintenance.
