TransitStory new downtown Calgary art
New public art project recently installed
Check out TransitStory at Centre Street and 7 Ave LRT station
Calgarians, commuters and art enthusiasts are invited to “join the crowd” and share a brief moment in time and space with the sculptures and 7000 transit users who get on and off trains at this busy station every day.
Jill Anholt is the artist who created TransitStory. Anholt is originally from Calgary and has been creating site-specific public art installations for the past fifteen years.
“The artwork evokes the ephemeral presence and memory of past travellers. Like objects seen obliquely out of the corner of one’s eye, the art installation will change from every angle – at once present and absent,” according to Anholt.
The intent of the artwork is to draw-in passersby, enticing them to look at the work and explore connections and relationships embodied in the site. The display looks different when observed from various angles and distances. The colours of the steel change and the embedded imagery provide a more intimate experience to the viewers close up.
The making of TransitStory (photo courtesy City of Calgary)
Erin Balaban, Project Manager of Calgary’s Heavy Industries says that the artwork was designed, engineered, painted and prepped at their Calgary plant. The artwork used over 104 litres of paint and 2500 linear feet of steel.
Adam Weir, Technical Director of Heavy Industries says “at first glance this project really looked like it was going to be something simple but once we got into the meat of it, we discovered that a lot of variables created a lot of complex solutions”.
The installation of TransitStory took place over the Family Day Weekend. The artist budget for the project was $215,000 and Jill Anholt was chosen via an open call process.
Category: Calgary
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