Making public art the public doesn't hate

It may stop you in your tracks but is it art? When art is designed for public spaces everyone's a critic. Making public art that pleases everyone can be difficult. Prepare to share your opinion.

"Found Compressions One and Two" sits at the corner of 33rd Street West and Avenue C North. (CBC).

​Well, it's literally two compressed bales of garbage. You'll agree instantly that this is not achieving the objective of beautifying the city and improving the commercial area, because it's literally two bales of garbage sitting on the corner. I tried to contact our city councillor to find out, what is this, why is this here and how can we get rid of it? Unfortunately I didn't get a response, so I did the next best thing, and I just covered up the unsightly art... which I'd have to argue​ was an improvement. The message was, 'our tax dollars are for keeping garbage off the streets.Luke Coupal in Saskatoon explaining what compelled him to personally hide a public art installation with a big, black tarp

The work known as "Found Compressions One and Two," was intended to be a temporary installation. And it was removed by the city last week.

(Courtesy of Luke Coupal)

Many people in Calgary apparently wish they could get the same level of cooperation from their city. Last fall a new sculpture was unveiled near the city's airport. It's a 17-metre blue circle atop an overpass. It's officially called 'Travelling Light' but it has many nicknames. 'The Big Owe' and 'The Blue Hoopla' are a couple of the clean ones. It cost taxpayers $470,000 dollars. Even Calgary's art loving mayor, Naheed Nenshi, called it 'awful'.

The public art installation provoked such a harsh reaction that City Council is reviewing its public art policy. The German company commissioned to design the sculpture expressed shock at the local anger.

​Our idea was to create a landmark for this place so people could see it from afar and give the site a strong visual identity. Most of the people are experiencing the piece while driving by so you have to work with that. Its a circle but on the other hand it has also framed the landscape from afar. I think it's a piece with a strong visual identity. We didn't want to offend anybody. We strongly hope the people of Calgary really like the piece.Axel Lieber

Druh Farrell is one of the Calgary councillors who voted in favour of reviewing the city's Public art policy.

Heavy Industries is a Calgary company that engineers and assembles public art including the controversial 'Travelling Light.' Our Calgary producer Michael O'Halloran visited the company's warehouse, and spoke with its Vice President, Kenneth Heinbecker.

Ben Mills is a producer with Public Art Management a company that produces public art projects in Toronto.

Penny Balkin Bach is the Executive Director of the Association for Public Art, a not-for-profit group that commissions and promotes public art. She was in Philadelphia.

Examples of exceptional public art recommended by Ben Mills

• James Turrell's Straight Flush
• Anish Kapoor's Mountain in Simcoe Park
• Michael Snow's birds in the Eaton's Centre
• Cloudgate in Chicago

Tell us what you think of public art where you live, or where you've visited... your favourites and your flops.

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This segment was produced by The Current's Gord Westmacott and CBC Calgary's Michael O'Halloran.