Gather ’round, everyone! Lean in, because I’ve got a tale for you about two of Kitchener’s most famous “ladies” who spent decades looking for a permanent home.
Imagine it’s 1940. A local artist named Helen Waimel Robertson—who was a total rock star in the sculpture world—decides to create something a bit “extra” for the era. She crafts these two stunning Art Deco statues. They aren’t just any statues, though; they’re sea goddesses, or Nereids*, elegantly hitching a ride on the backs of dolphins. *They represent the beauty and goodness of the sea.
Now, here’s the cool part: Helen didn’t just use plain old cement. She mixed in quartz aggregate. So, when the sun hits them just right, they don’t just sit there—they sparkle.
But back in the 1940s, Kitchener was a pretty quiet, conservative place. When a local businessman named Roy Bullas put these “nude” sea nymphs in a fountain outside his furniture store on Charles Street, it caused quite the stir! People weren’t exactly used to seeing mythical goddesses hanging out by the sidewalk. They became a local landmark, but they definitely raised a few eyebrows.
Fast forward about forty years. The wrecking ball arrives! The Bullas store is being torn down to build the downtown bus terminal. For a minute there, it looked like our sparkling goddesses might end up in a scrap heap. Luckily, a local couple, the Kachiks, stepped in like art-world superheroes and saved them from the rubble.
After that, the statues spent a long time hiding away in city storage—basically a dark, dusty basement. It wasn’t until 1998 that they finally got their “happily ever after.” Thanks to some serious persistence from the artist’s sister, the city brought them out of retirement.
Because they’re made of that special sparkling concrete, they couldn’t stay outside forever—the Ontario winters are a bit much for even a sea goddess! So, they were moved into the “refreshment” lobby of the Centre In The Square. Today, they stand there finally dry, warm, and ready to greet everyone coming to see a show.
So, next time you’re in the theatre for a performance, look for the ladies on the dolphins. They’ve survived the 1940s critics, a demolition crew, and years in a storage locker just to sparkle for you!
Note: A sculpture is a three-dimensional work of art. It can be made of stone, metal, clay, or other materials. A statue is an artwork that depicts a person or an animal or part of a person or animal. The terms sculpture and statue are often used interchangeably.
REFLECTIONS OF A SWAMPER 