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ART & CULTURE
Public weighs in on Bronson public art proposals Steph Willems steph.willems@metroland.com
EMC news - Judging by the turnout at an open house at the Bronson Centre on Nov. 8, interest in public art in Ottawa is growing. A number of artists answered the city’s call last summer for submissions for the public art component of the Bronson Avenue Renewal project, a $30-million road reconstruction project expected to wrap up in 2014. Those proposals were on display at the open house, with the public encouraged to provide feedback for the selection process. Two sites have been chosen for art installations: the entrance to the Bronson Centre and the southern fenceline at the lawn bowling club by the intersection with Gladstone Avenue. The proposals were split between those vying for either project, though two of the seven artists were submitting for both. “The chainlink fence around the lawn bowling club will be replaced with an art fence,� said Melissa Black, project co-ordinator of the city’s public art program. “It could be the whole fence or just a part of it.� Both sites were chosen for their busy pedestrian traffic,
STEPH WILLEMS/METROLAND
Artist Andrew O’Malley and his submission for the Bronson Avenue Renewal public art competition. A group of seven shortlisted artists displayed their ideas at an open house at the Bronson Centre on Nov. 8. high visibility and current state of appearance. Most would agree that the current
look of both sites isn’t likely to get hearts pounding. One of the artists vying for
the Bronson Centre site was Andrew O’Malley, whose scale model gave a taste of
what he’d like to see adorning the entranceway. Glowing, translucent figures depicting
a cross-section of the population – and the clientele of the centre itself – would alternate in colour, synching up once an hour. “There would also be seasonal colour palates,� said O’Malley, who has been shortlisted before in a public art competition. Detlef Gotzens, who has 45 years of professional artistic experience under his belt, brought his love for glass to his proposal for the fence. He envisions a aluminum fence – two metres tall and 20 metres long – topped with pieces of thick, coloured glass. The wispy aluminum component is meant to look like grass moving in the wind. “The idea was to create something dynamic; a cheery accent that you wouldn’t expect as part of a fence,� said Gotzens, adding, “Glass is a very unique material. There are so many things you can do with glass.� The city’s art selection committee was to review public feedback following the open house and return a verdict by Nov. 14. The two proposals chosen will be based on several criteria, including creativity, ability to address the site characteristics, production methods, durability and maintainability.
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Ottawa-East EMC - Thursday, November 15, 2012