Give us art with a purpose, Edmonton Transit advisers say
Public art could be a cool bench inspiring selfie after selfie.
It could be mural that makes a dead space feel welcoming, inviting riders to linger and talk or send a tweet, making the station safer for everyone.
But most of Edmonton’s public art isn’t interactive. That’s a wasted opportunity, said Edmonton’s transit system advisory board on Tuesday, calling on councillors to rethink their policy around public art.
“Attractive stations can really promote people going in,” said Izak Roux, chairman of the advisory board. If artists were brought in earlier during the design process, their art could be functional, he said, adding it could provide more seating, security and sense of place.
The board also called for public art to be spread throughout the city, even to some bus shelters, and redistributed so it can benefit some of the aging stations that need it most.
Full Story (Edmonton Journal)