Some public things - pools, washrooms, Public Enemy, etc... don't give rise to particularly happy thoughts. But others - public radio, public libraries, public art - just make everything better. I am really interested in the idea of public art, the art that sits out in the open for everyone to enjoy. Who comes up with this? Who creates it? Who endorses it (if anyone)? I think anything that takes art out of galleries and exposes it to more people is an excellent idea. And if that art is though-provoking and unexpected while you are out, say, waiting for the bus, then so much the better. "Street art" obviously plays a huge part in this, and we have several esteemed graf artists who are out there creating for your viewing pleasure, but there are also quite a few city-sanctioned pieces out there too. I'm going to set aside a bit of space here to start cataloging these bits of public art in Vancouver. Every Friday until I run out.

The first you might recognize from the picture. It is "214-5Arcx14" and "3 Arcs x 5" from Vancouver's International Sculpture Biennale: Open Spaces 2005/2006. The Biennale is a bi-annual public art show featuring International sculpture artists and decorating the public spaces of Vancouver for 18 months. The arcs were created by Bernar Venet of France. "214-5Arcx14" is at Sunset Beach, and features a row of rusted steel arcs shaped vaguely like a whale's ribcage or a ship's hull. In either case, partially decayed and at home on the beach. It looks beautiful with nothing but sea behind it. Its associates, "3 Arcs x 5", are across the water in Vanier Park and are identical in style except that the arcs are broken open and placed at odd angles to each other. I suspect that less people see these ones, and I actually think that they are less visually compelling than "214-5Arcx14", but interesting nonetheless.

I know that Rachael really likes this one too.

The other participants in the biennale are listed online, as well as a map of sculpture locations around the city, so that you can find the ones you're interested in.

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