City of Nanaimo unveils Wind Phone art installation in Bowen Road Cemetery

New public artwork by Mauro Dalla Costa offers a space for reflection, remembrance and connection

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 27, 2026 10:00 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo is pleased to announce the unveiling of "Waves", a Wind Phone created by Nanaimo-based artist Mauro Dalla Costa, now permanently installed at Bowen Road Cemetery. The installation offers a quiet, symbolic space for reflection, remembrance and connection for those experiencing grief and loss.

Wind Phones are symbolic, non-working telephones placed in natural or communal public spaces as a way to process grief and honour loved ones who have passed. This Wind Phone invites visitors to speak words they wish they could still share. It is a way to express emotions, share cherished memories or say goodbye. Through this simple yet powerful act, the artwork offers solace along the journey of grief.

Mauro Dalla Costa’s sculptural work, titled "Waves", is carved from teak wood and features rippling textures inspired by the movement created by a single drop of water. At the centre of the piece, the phone becomes the origin point of these waves, serving as a powerful metaphor for how every word spoken continues to resonate outward, echoing beyond what we can see. Designed to be both solid and delicate, "Waves" invites quiet moments of reflection within the serene landscape of Bowen Road Cemetery.

The City also acknowledges and thanks Carmen Lavoie for initiating this meaningful project, and Bryan Gittings for his skilled woodwork contribution to the installation.

Mauro Dalla Costa is an Argentinian printmaker based in Nanaimo, whose practice explores screen printing and sculptural forms through themes of memory, time and connection. He has operated his studio, Uff Serigrafia, since 2004, producing fine art prints for artists across disciplines.

The Wind Phone installation is now open to the public and welcomes visitors to experience this space of reflection and healing. More information on the city’s Public Art programs can be found on the City's website.

Link to Strategic Plan: The Wind Phone art installation aligns with the goals of the City of Nanaimo’s City Plan by facilitating opportunities for the public to encounter art and culture in public spaces throughout the city and as part of their daily experiences.

Key Points

The City of Nanaimo is pleased to announce the unveiling of "Waves", a Wind Phone created by Nanaimo-based artist Mauro Dalla Costa, now permanently installed at Bowen Road Cemetery.
Wind Phones are symbolic, non-working telephones placed in natural or communal public spaces as a way to process grief and honour loved ones who have passed.
Mauro Dalla Costa’s sculptural work, titled "Waves", is carved from teak wood and features rippling textures inspired by the movement created by a single drop of water.
The Wind Phone installation is now open to the public and welcomes visitors to experience this space of reflection and healing.

Quotes

"Mauro Dalla Costa’s Wind Phone is a profoundly compassionate addition to our public art landscape. It offers a quiet space for community members to reflect and find comfort through a shared experience of remembrance. We are grateful to the artist for creating a work that will support and uplift our community for years to come."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

"This Wind Phone is about giving space to words that were never said, or that still need to be spoken. Like waves in water, every voice leaves a trace. It is an invitation to pause, remember, and feel that connection continue outward. I hope this piece offers comfort, reflection, and a moment of connection for anyone who visits."

Mauro Dalla Costa

Artist

Images

Waves by Mauro Dalla Costa

A Wind Phone entitled Waves designed by Mauro Dalla Costa

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Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact

Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

Media.Requests@nanaimo.ca

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