Artist leaves her mark on Games with winning medal design

Laura O'Brien will make her mark on the 2009 Canada Games through art, rather than athleticism.
O'Brien, 34, of Charlottetown has created the winning design that will adorn the 1,668 medals that will be awarded to the bronze, silver and gold medallists when the Summer Games are staged next year on Prince Edward Island.
"What I find funny, I'm really a non-athlete - no co-ordination whatsoever,'' she said.
"So it's great that me, as an artist, can now play a part in the Games.''
A graduate of Holland College's visual communications program, O'Brien has been working at Graphic Communications in Charlottetown for a number of years.
Often her work, which includes considerable print media efforts, focuses on creating marketing images that are seen in a flash.
Her winning design for the medals, though, will be hanging around (quite literally) for a long time.
"It's just something that's really great for a designer to do,'' she said. "It's such a lasting memento of their (athletes') achievement and the event here on P.E.I.''
In creating her design, O'Brien said she tried to imagine what would appeal to the athletes who will be winning the Summer Games medals in one year. She tried to make the design have depth, look professional, convey a sense of movement all while using elements to represent the Island and the spirit of the Games.
Her successful design, chosen over more than 50 entries, has a golden maple leaf on the horizon meant to symbolize the sun rising, as the athletes from across Canada dedicate each day, rain or shine, to train to achieve gold, she explained.
"It is also meant to resemble a flame of desire,'' she said. "Each day is a new day for the competitors to reach their ultimate goal.''
Three sweeping lines near the bottom of the medal serve several purposes, including showing movement and speed of an athlete while also reflecting the Island's rolling farmlands.
The trio of lines also represents what O'Brien calls the three must- haves for all athletes: dedication, training and sportsmanship.
Leaves running up the side are the laurel leaves of victory. Oak trees, seen in both the provincial flag and coat of arms, symbolize the Island's three counties as well as strength and growth.
On the top of the medal, O'Brien created the image of a flag of pride for the top athletes in Canada, each representing their own province. It is also meant to show the ribbon at the end of a race or the completion of a goal, she explained.
On the back of the medal, a far more simple design illustrates an athlete victoriously crossing the finish line.
"Oh, it's fantastic,'' O'Brien said of being able to create the winning design.
"The other entries were just outstanding. I'm in good company with those guys. It's an honour.''
Raylyn Yu of Charlottetown and Stephen Farquharson of Dieppe, N.B., were recognized for placing second and third respectively for their design entries.
Brandon Bernard, a student from Kensington, took top honours for "best school design.''
A company still needs to be selected to produce the medals.