Barrie is getting some new street signs this weekend, but these ones won’t tell you where to turn. Ten colourful signs designed by young artists are being unveiled Sat., Oct. 3, outside the MacLaren Art Centre as part of a new public art installation called “Recalculating.” More than 80 children from four Barrie schools and Youth Haven took part in the project, creating their own imaginative twist on street signs inspired by their interests, ideas and the community around them. Artistic designs brought to life Ten designs were chosen and turned into real metal signs that will be displayed at 37 Mulcaster Street until May 2027. The young artists whose designs were chosen for display are Abigail Calderon, Alexis van der Wal, Aurora Knowles, Avery Miles, Briella Howey, Coral Groot, Halle Wilson, Isabella Pagrion, Kaitlyn Hewett and Kris Morley. “Their creations reveal something about how young people see their community, through humour, colour and imagination,” said MacLaren artistic director Tyler Durbano. The public installation will be unveiled at 1 p.m. during the MacLaren’s 40th Anniversary Open House, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. This project is a partnership between the Maclaren Art Centre and the Barrie Public Art Committee. All 80 designs created can be found on the MacLaren Art Centre’s website.
