New $2.25M art installation (Blue Ring 2.0)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'd love to see the Venn diagram of people who complain about the cost of this with those who supported the Flames getting tax dollars for their arena. I bet it would be hilarious.

I'm not up in arms about this as it's pretty meh to me but comparing public money going into a piece of art to a public facility of any sort is about as apples to oranges as it gets. While I don't really have problems with sprucing up the city, this is strictly an aesthetic expenditure and benefits nobody so much more debatable.

[surferguy]

I like it, therefore I benefit from its presence.

[PepsiFree]

“public facility” lol

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

“public facility” lol

Yeah, calling the arena a public facility is a bit much. The public is welcome as long as they buy $100 tickets from a billionaire to watch millionaires play hockey. That's pretty different than our free-to-access parks/libraries etc.

[Wormius]

It’s a public facility in so much as the public is responsible for virtually every aspect that would ordinarily come out of a private owner’s pocket, while simultaneously partaking in none of the benefits.

[Zarley]

Fitting art piece for an ugly building. CMLC is really cranking out the hits these days!

[getbak]

This is part of a public facility as well. The art is being purchased as part of the city's policy of allocating part of the budget from public infrastructure for art work.

I know there was a lot of complaining about this budget because of the backlash against the Big Blue Ring and Stupid Rock Towers, but that was more about the placement of the art than the actual budget. Only the extreme Rick Bell types were opposed to any money going to public art. Most people supported budget being allocated for public art, they just wanted it being positioned in more logical locations rather than the side of a highway.

Because of its location, this will probably be one piece of public art that is seen by the most Calgarians over time. It will also quickly become a landmark and gathering place on Stampede Park. In 5 years, "let's meet in front of the big water droplet" will likely be a common phrase for people making plans with their friends to attend the Stampede.

Not every piece of art needs to be a bronze horse.




If 1% of the BMO Centre's half billion dollar budget is allocated to public art, this isn't even half of that, so we should be seeing even more revealed in the coming months.

Also, the new arena's budget is going to top a billion... so hold on to your bronze horses, we should be getting some big art projects there too.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Fitting art piece for an ugly building. CMLC is really cranking out the hits these days!

I don't mind the art installation, but that building is an unfortunate miss. Just a big, massive brown wall on most sides.

[monkeyman]

I don't mind it, but I've been a huge proponent of the BMO expansion and redevelopment of the entire area, including the new arena. This area is going to be a focal point of visitors for generations.

[Bill Bumface]

The one thing I really like is the streetscape that is coming together where they used to have the parking payment plaza.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I don't mind the art installation, but that building is an unfortunate miss. Just a big, massive brown wall on most sides.

I don’t know what the building looks like from the other side, but I think it’s pretty neat looking from the ctrain station side as you ride past it.

[DoubleK]

Meanwhile in Seattle

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...gary-1.7015271

Okay, while this at least looks like art as compared to the blue ring, not a fan of the giant pipe sticking out of it. Is it supposed to look like a stream of water coming out of a faucet and splashing on the ground? It also looks like a giant trypophobia trigger with all the holes.

Couldn't we have spent the money on ACAD students designing something in CAD and and metal 3D printing/CNCing the thing?

Why are our public art funds always spent on art from abroad that seems middling and doesn't evoke imagination and wonder? (shakes fist at cloud).

The fact that you think steel art like this is designed in AutoCAD these days is hilarious.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Titan2

2 million people in Calgary/area and we couldn't find a local artist? I ####ing hate that.

You want to support local artists, go to an open mic.

Let’s worry less about whether or jot someone’s from here and more about whether or not their art is worth looking at for the next 70 years.

Based on the renderings, I bet that looks good in real life.

Thumbs up.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not up in arms about this as it's pretty meh to me but comparing public money going into a piece of art to a public facility of any sort is about as apples to oranges as it gets. While I don't really have problems with sprucing up the city, this is strictly an aesthetic expenditure and benefits nobody so much more debatable.

One might argue everyone benefits living someplace with a multitude of cool sculptures.

Go check out Paris sometime.

[Slava]

Looking at the other works that artist has installed makes me think this is going to be awesome. He’s done some huge installations, and honestly I’m not sure that a lot of local artists have the capability to do this.

[powderjunkie]

Considering what a lightning rod public art projects are it is probably for the best to outsource…it would suck to be known as the ‘blue ring guy’ in your own city. And we’ve even seen a nut job attack the Peace Bridge…

I am curious what projects Calgary artists have done around the world? I wouldn’t go far out of my way to see anything, but it would be neat to know

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

One might argue everyone benefits living someplace with a multitude of cool sculptures.

Go check out Paris sometime.

Plus an increase in tourism (and tourism dollars) when the city is seen as aesthetically pleasing.

Calgary’s changing skyline is becoming a tourist attraction of its own, as more cutting-edge architecture is on display – and it’s getting noticed around the world.

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/architect...tion-1.6627765

[Acey]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Only issue I had with the Blue Ring was the actual ring itself being considered art. At least get something nicer.

My other issue with the ring is that I feel like it's in a really dumb location, zero foot traffic anywhere near there. I used to live very close by and it still just kinda feels like the middle of nowhere.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Acey

My other issue with the ring is that I feel like it's in a really dumb location, zero foot traffic anywhere near there. I used to live very close by and it still just kinda feels like the middle of nowhere.

You’re not meant to look at it up close. It was designed to be seen from a distance while driving. Next time you go to the airport look at the ring as you drive by. It slides along the horizon in a really cool way. Very clever design.