Iconic Calgary artwork gets a new home
Transit riders at Calgary’s 45 Street station will now be able to witness the blending of artistry and urban connectivity with the installation of a popular piece of CTrain art at their stop.
TransitStory, formerly installed at the City’s Centre-street station since 2012, showcases numerous sculptures of people fabricated from steel to form a crowd of transit travelers which appear to share a moment of time and space with the other commuters embarking and disembarking at the station.
Crafted by renowned artist Jill Anholt, TransitStory was removed from its original home to accommodate future upgrades at the Centre Street Station, and to complete much-needed conservation and maintenance efforts. The city’s bustling 45th Street station is a fitting backdrop for the beloved piece, weaving a narrative resonating with the pulse of a city in constant motion.
“TransitStory is a highly recognizable and beloved piece in The City of Calgary's art collection,” says Public Art Liaison Julie Yepishina-Geller. “Conserving and maintaining artwork in public spaces is an important, and rarely talked about part of the work we do to ensure Calgarians and visitors can continue to enjoy art throughout the city - today, and in years to come. We work directly with the artist to ensure that the integrity of the artwork and artistic vision is not compromised during the conservation process.”
A collaborative decision between the conservation team and the artist was made to make adjustments to the piece to facilitate long-term maintenance and conservation. The ideas were worked through with a group of experts that consisted of lighting designers, electrical specialists, engineers, experienced fabricators, transportation specialists and Calgary Transit.
Finding partners with both the level of expertise as well as the ability to handle the scale and detailed work of conserving a large piece of artwork was no small feat, says Lisa Isley, City of Calgary’s Public Art conservator.
“This is a complicated project, there are a lot of layers involved as well as a high degree of intricacy and there are very few people with both the skill set as well as the kind of facility large enough to handle this job,” says Isley who eventually found a solution for the fabrication and painting at NOV Inc. (formerly National Oilwell Varcoe) in Calgary. “One might not think of an oilfield equipment and technologies company as the perfect place for art to be handled but it was exactly where we found the solution to our conservation requirements.”
Skilled welder/fitters repaired the damaged figures and reconfigured the steel grating that they are mounted to for easier long-term maintenance. Each piece was carefully repainted and finished with a protective coating to ensure long-term sustainability and ease of maintenance for the future.
While fine art is not a typical job for this vendor, NOV Paint Supervisor/Coordinator Sean Pitt says his teams took pride in being part of preserving the artists vision for this work.
“It may not look like it when you look around but our people are all artists in their own right,” reflects Pitt. “All of what we do here is art, it’s just a different aspect and for us it’s nice to diversify, everyone takes pride in it.”
The reinstallation, guided by Wingenback Ltd. movers, has sparked a renewed dialogue about the role of public art in fostering a dynamic urban landscape.
“I am really delighted to see this artwork refurbished to its original vibrant hues – warm colours on one side and cool on the other which create a transformative experience for both pedestrians and train travelers, mirroring the pulse of the city in constant movement,” says Anholt.
As in the Centre Street location, Anholt hopes_ TransitStory_ will serve as a shared experience, a communal touchstone that binds commuters in a moment of artistic contemplation.
“The artwork’s transition to a new setting breathes fresh life into its narrative, inviting viewers to reinterpret its meaning in the context of the bustling transit center,” reflects Anholt. “Art has the power to transform spaces and create connections…. how the piece has integrated into the daily rhythm of Calgary is truly gratifying.”
During today’s morning commute, CTrain riders took a moment to grab a free coffee, speak with the artist and celebrate TransitStory in its new location at the17 Avenue and 45 Street S.W. CTrain platform. This evening, Calgary Arts Development will host a reception with the artist and conservationist at 6 p.m. at the Hellenic Cultural Centre, 1 Tamarac Crescent S.W. Register for the free event on Eventbrite at https://transitstory.eventbrite.ca. An ASL interpreter will be on hand.
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