Canmore’s public art sculpture along the Bow River – Chinook – is coming down.
The large sculpture, commissioned in 2005 after a jury selection process, has maintenance and repair costs considered too high for it to remain along the popular river trail.
Supervisor of arts and culture Chris Bartolomie told council at the time Chinook was installed, the life cycle of the piece was not considered and only annual cleaning and painting thought necessary.
“Over the years we have learned that the materials used and the construction methods employed were better suited to an indoor site and that if moving it to a controlled space was not possible, its lifespan would only be prolonged with regular, costly conversion,” Bartolomie said. “The costs associated with the repairs currently required are believed to be approximately $5,000.”
While the sculpture by local artist Pascale Ouellet was commissioned in 2005, its controversial placement along the river path caused controversy in the community. It led to the 2010 public art policy and a consultation process for the selection of public art sites.
Canmore collects $3 per capita every year to support development of public art by local and Canadian artists. That includes the Big Head on Main Street and Touchstone in the plaza at Elevation Place.
In 2010, Calgary Art Conservation submitted a report on Chinook and stated: “The sculpture is constructed primarily of wood, fiberglass and paint. While these materials are considered durable, they are not permanent. The outdoor environment in Canmore is brutal and unrelenting to these materials.”
That year, $5,000 was spent on repairs and Bartolomie said an “experimental solution” tried to address the issue the climate presented and the hope was that solution would work in the future.
“The materials continued to deteriorate and the cost of repair and conservation is no longer fiscally responsible,” she said. “In consultation with the artist and the Canmore Public Art Committee, it has been decided the artwork would be de-accessioned in December 2015.”
A keen supporter of the arts, Mayor John Borrowman said it was unfortunate the sculpture would be taken down, but noted the debate around it and its location if nothing else brought public art to the forefront of the community conversation.
“Art is meant to create conversation in the community, so whether people liked it or didn’t like the piece, it served a valuable service,” Borrowman said. “We can take pride in the public art collection we are building for a community of our size.”
