Title: The Luggage Project
Year: 2008
Artist: Ernest Daetwyler
Medium: Indiana limestone; bronze
Location: Victoria Park, Gaukel Street entrance
Kitchener, ON
Acquisition Method: Public Art (1%)
The City of Kitchener is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in
Canada, welcoming immigrants from all over the world. The local history shows a
steady stream of newcomers starting in the 18th
century with the arrival of
German and Scottish settlers. Voyage and the perspective of the traveler is very
much a part of the Canadian experience, in particular Kitchener’s identity, and
inspired me to use luggage as a symbol. Luggage represents belongings on the
move and all the knowledge, skills and hopes migrants bring with them.
Eight naturalistically carved suitcases, representing different time periods in our
past, are placed along the pathways in Victoria Park. The handles and labels of
the luggage are cast in bronze. Each label carries a message from Kitchener
residents of different cultural backgrounds saying why they chose Kitchener as
the city to live in. Additional labels in bronze are placed in unexpected ways
throughout the park. They may be found on the ground, on a rock, on a bench or
other locations.
-Ernest Daetwyler, 2008