Painted bridges gateway to exploration

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This article was published 08/07/2019 (2512 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A series of public art installations along the Seine River seeks to give Winnipeggers an eyeful — whether they are strolling, roaming or rolling.

Cool Streets Winnipeg unveiled work Monday from Quebec artist Ilana Pichon at a pedestrian bridge along Niakwa Road. Pichon’s piece, Built by nature, encapsulates the city’s geometry by incorporating various characteristics of houses, roads, and railways that surround the body of water.

Three other Seine-area art installations are located on pedestrian bridges north of Fermor Avenue, north of Provencher Boulevard, and connecting Edgewood Street and Tremblay Street.

Stéphane Dorge, organizer of Cool Streets, began transforming public spaces into art in 2017. He said the project aims to encourage people to explore Manitoba’s capital differently.

“We are a river city, and if we had a lot more pedestrian crossings, I think it would really change the dynamic of how we move around our city,” said Dorge. “So if I can encourage people to explore pedestrian bridges, to think critically about them and maybe push to try and get more, that’s my goal with trying to get the art on the bridges.”

In partnership with the Centre culturel franco-manitobain, a $12,000 grant was allocated through the Riel Community Committee to enhance the four bridges that connect three city wards represented by Couns. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River), Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital).

Chambers said the installation reflects a vibrant city.

“I think that’s something that when you look at the diversity of our city, it’s all about the divergence of colours and backgrounds. Certainly, the art that’s represented on this bridge is different than the ones on the other three bridges, so it’s thematic in that it’s all inclusive, it’s very diverse, and that’s what Winnipeg is all about,” he said.

Anita Moyse who lives in the neighbourhood, visited the Niakwa Road bridge during the unveiling. She said public art encourages those in high-density living to explore nearby nature.

“We often walk on this bridge and to see these paintings is now really enticing people to come to these bridges,” Moyse said. “This way, we are getting out to nature and seeing the young geese born and in the spring the ducks and the various wildlife along the river.”

nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca