Broadway artwork is first of 10 planned

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This article was published 30/11/2016 (3422 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dome-shaped piece of art that has been turning heads on Broadway could be just a taste of things to come for the historic downtown thoroughfare.

The Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) and the Winnipeg Arts Council (WAC) hope to eventually have 10 light-based art pieces permanently on display on the tree-lined street.

The pieces would be installed on the median at each of the 10 intersections between Main and Osborne streets to help light the street and attract more pedestrians to the downtown.

“They (the arts council) have invested significantly and we’ve invested significantly. Now it’s how do we grow that, how do we get some sponsorships… and get 10 sculptures on this street,” Downtown Winnipeg BIZ CEO Stefano Grande said Tuesday following the BIZ’s annual general meeting.

“It’s a majestic street and we want to create a reason for people to walk downtown on a Sunday night when there’s nothing going on,” Grande added.

“That is a big part of what we want to work towards in terms of place making (in the downtown).”

Stephanie Voyce, manager of the BIZ’s place making, cleanliness and transportation committee, said a jury has already selected two other light-based art pieces that hopefully can be installed on the street within the next few years.

But everything is contingent upon the BIZ and the WAC finding sponsors who are willing to put up the money to purchase the artworks, Voyce said.

“It will go as fast as we can find partners to make it happen. But once we solidify the funding, there is a design we’ve already picked out and an artist who is ready to go.”

Voyce said the BIZ and the WAC have been working on the Broadway artwork initiative for several years, but it was often difficult for potential sponsors to envision what kind of impact the artwork could have on the street. That was, at least, until that first piece of art was recently installed on the median at the corner of Broadway and Edmonton Street.

“We knew this first piece would really set the stage,” she said.

“It’s (about) getting the first piece in place and re-engaging with potential partners. Then hopefully things will start to move forward.”

The initial piece, entitled Heaven Between, was created by Vancouver artist Bill Pechet through the WAC’s Public Art program. Pechet said the dome shape of the piece, which is suspended from wires about two metres above the ground, was inspired by the domes on the nearby Manitoba Legislative Building and the Union Station building.

The piece also features cutouts in the shape of elm leaves to represent the many trees along the street.

Pechet also created the flask-shaped public piece of art, called emptyful, that’s on display in the Millennium Library Park.

The light-based artwork on Broadway is one of a number of initiatives the BIZ will be pursuing as part of its new three-year strategic plan, which was unveiled at Tuesday’s AGM.

Another is the establishment of a Manitoba Walk of Fame to honour local celebrities. Grande said the Walk of Fame, which the BIZ has been working on for a number of years, will be located in the public plaza of the True North Square development, which is under construction on Graham Avenue.

The hope is to unveil the Walk of Fame in 2018.

Grande said the BIZ also hopes over the next three years it will see community groups take over some of its more popular events, including the Downtown Farmers Market and Manyfest.

He said End Homelessness Inc. has already agreed to take over its CEO Sleepover fundraising event.

“We’re hearing the community wants to take these over themselves and wants to do more,” he added.

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca