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Could public art be the magic pill for construction headaches? The City is hoping that a program developed by Blank Page Studio will support struggling businesses along 17th Avenue as the corridor undergoes extensive work to replace infrastructure and improve the public realm. Crews are nearly halfway finished the first year of construction on a project that will see water and sanitary lines upgraded, the road rebuilt, and new sidewalks and street furniture installed.
The cREative Realm responds to the characteristics of each block of 17th Avenue and offers a sensory and interactive experience to users engaging with the pieces of art. Between Macleod Trail and 4 Street SW, there will be at least four different projects for Calgarians to explore.
"A major consideration we made before starting construction on 17th Avenue is how we could support business owners and make sure construction had as little impact on their businesses as possible," said Logan Tolsma, Senior Transportation Engineer. "We're making sure that Calgarians can still access 17th Avenue during construction and cREative Realm will let people know they can still come down and do all the things they want to do on 17th Avenue and more."
Laura Reid, Mark Limacher and Matt Knapik have already launched 200 Stories, the first instalment of a project entitled City High Fortune. Circular bronze survey markers embedded into the ground guide visitors through an auditory tour that "collects histories, curiosities, futures, and fictions." A new episode in the six-part series will be released every week — you can find the conspicuous plates on the south side of the street between Macleod Trail and 1 Street SE.
Joanne MacDonald's Unlock gives a new purpose to keys discarded by Calgarians and local businesses. Hovering over the sidewalk between 1 Street SE and Centre Street, the dangling net of metal invites residents to attach their own personal spare keys to create a shining canopy of light.
Rebecca Reid, Randy-Lee Ross and Ryan Bourne will unleash Kaleidoscope Eyes on the public in mid-August. Like its name suggests, the artists will construct a large-scale kaleidoscope that showcase coloured glass etchings and collages of photos portraying 17th Avenue. The perception-altering tool will be accessible to the public at several events later in the summer.
Finally, Michael and Laura Hosaluk will create a network of spindles using a bicycle-powered laithe live before the public between August 11 to 17. The father and daughter team are inviting residents and business owners to the site bookended by 1 Street SW and 2 Street SW, where they can paint and connect the spindles "in a way that reflects their experience with the construction on 17th Avenue."
The effectiveness of the project in boosting foot traffic will be put to the test in the coming months, but similar initiatives in other cities have shown that Instagram-friendly works of art do in fact attract crowds. The City is also devoting thousands of dollars towards ad campaigns and gift card giveaways to show that, despite the construction, 17th Avenue remains open to business.
