"A really good piece of public art is a piece of public art that can engage many different people on many different levels," he said.
The piece will shift the view of the 100-foot-tall stack from the industrial to the aesthetic, Cross said. "There has to be some meaning behind it but also has to look pretty darn cool. It's a piece of pop art, right? I think it's going to make people smile." |
The Forks has served as a gathering place for thousands of years and it’s now an active community space with parks, museums, restaurants, and, despite months of sub -zero temperatures, lots of outdoor activity spaces.
One Winnipeg artist, aware of how compelling the first glimpses of spring are to a snow-bound city, wants to install a cluster of crocuses blooming from the top of an unused smokestack. This public art project would add a touch of whimsy to the area and remind visitors that spring was on its way. Smokestacks dot our landscape, and while some still serve a purpose, many have long since been abandoned. Most are also far too expensive to dismantle. Not surprisingly, artists are beginning to take notice of these vertical canvasses. Some envision colorful additions to the stacks like purple crocuses, flying pigs, or pink hearts. Others take a more traditional approach and paint them as they would a mural with scenes that reflect the history of the town. The Encina Power Station Chimney is a prime candidate. |