"Roger That" says 12-year old Matt about public art
Everyday Tourist Note: I have always wondered what others think of public art and public spaces, realizing my perspective on public art is unique - as is everyone’s. While I get lots of feedback from others via conversations, emails and social media regarding public art, it is always from adults, very rarely from young people i.e. the next generation who are going to inherit the art.
This summer a new piece of public art was unveiled at the Tuscany LRT Station, an artwork chosen by a jury that I was part of, but not my first choice. (You can learn more about the jury process in my blog “Confessions of a public art juror.”)
I thought rather than blogging my critic of the artwork and the station as a public space, I would ask a friend’s 12-year old grandson who lives in Tuscany if he might like to do a guest blog. To my surprise, he said yes!
Guest blog by Matt:
The storm was coming in when we got on the train. The crowfoot C-train station felt pretty industrial and grey. We got on the train and headed west towards the mountains. The new Tuscany station is now the end of the line. Tuscany is my home community.
When we approached the new station I noticed that they had planted trees along the tracks below me. The roof of the inside of the station was wooden and felt more connected to nature somehow. The station felt similar to Crowfoot, but with more natural elements.
Eamon's Bungalow Camp built in the 1950s and was an icon for people travelling in and out of Calgary for decades. For the complete story click here: Avenue Magazine: The Story of Eamon's Camp
The big Eamon’s Bungalow sign was still there, and I know that they thought about tearing it down or selling it. It was very historic, and I think it cool that they decided to keep it.
After exploring the platform a little more, I found that there was a small colorful building with painted sides. Public art is better than just looking at an empty wall. The station’s reputation can be positive. I hope that the people who see the painting will get something out of it.
I was really surprised that the painted building was actually a public washroom! I wonder if other C-train stations have these to take care of the public that use the stations across the city? And with fancy art on them? The colourful paintings definitely made the building more artistic and appealing.
Some might ask if this is public art or decoration? Matt just likes it! Roger That!
I looked around and saw several metal sculptures with lights that reminded me of trees. When they are illuminated at night, it is far cooler because it looks like light spheres.
I looked around and saw several metal sculptures with lights that reminded me of trees. When they are illuminated at night, it is far cooler because it looks like light spheres.
The installation of tree-like lamp posts as public art is titled "Roger That" and was created by Vancouver artist Bill Pechet. One of the guidelines for the project was to create something that would link the communities of Tuscany and Royal Oak. "Roger That" is a military saying for communicating to someone "I understand." In some ways they remind me of the old TV antennas that use to sit on top of everyone's homes. Or could it be some sort of visual morse code? Good art is often ambiguous, allowing everyone to see what they want to see based on their experiences.
Another view of "Roger That."
The yellow lights are the same as you see on roadside construction sites.
"Roger That" at night. (photo credit calgary.ca)
Roger That at dusk or dawn creates an eerie beacon of light. (photo credit: Pechet Studio)
Bridging Communities
Day or night, there are similar sculptures on both sides of Crowchild Trail. It made me think that it’s kind of weird that the C-train station is the only bridge between the communities of Tuscany and Royal Oak. I wonder if people will actually visit each other’s community now, or if the train is as far as they will go? Only time will tell. I think it will, because families can enter unexplored territory on the outside of what they see every day.
There are a lot of youth in Tuscany. My mom says that there used to be only one way in and one way out of Tuscany, and if it snowed, people couldn’t get anywhere. Then they built roads and even added a C-train station. The Tuscany C-train station kind of opens up my world and represents freedom to me. Now I can go where I want, and travel outside of my community whenever I want. I think that the freedom for people to go where they want is just as beautiful as the art they have at the stations.
Artwork in communities is cool. A community that has art means that it has people that care about it. Art doesn’t have to be beautiful, but it should make people stop and think about it. All art won’t be meaningful to everyone, some people will like it and some will hate it. The purpose is to cause a reaction.
In 20 years I wonder what my friends and I will think about that station and the artwork when we look back…?
Roger That another perspective.
Last Word
I am not sure what I expected in from Matt, but this certainly wasn’t it. Who would have though at 12-year old would see the coming of a LRT Train Station has his road to freedom? Who would have thought he’d be concerned about community?
It is also interesting that it seems like the art on the utility boxes made a bigger impression on him than the large sculptural installation. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from that as we think about future public art projects, not only in Calgary but other cities.