A Calgary artwork has a new home

Transit riders at Calgary's 45th Street Station can now witness a fusion of art and urban connectivity with a popular CTrain artwork installation at their stops.

TransitStoryInstalled in the city's Central Street Station since 2012, the station features numerous steel sculptures of people to form a group of transit travelers, who seem to share time and space with other commuters entering and leaving the station.

Created by renowned artist Jill Anholt, TransitStory Removed from its original home to accommodate future upgrades at Center Street Station and to complete much-needed storage and maintenance work. The city's bustling 45th Street Station is a fitting backdrop for the beloved production, which weaves a story that resonates with the pulse of a city in constant motion.

“TransitStory This is a very popular and beloved piece in the City of Calgary's art collection,” says Public Art Liaison Officer Julie Yepishina-Geller. “Preserving and conserving artwork in public spaces is important and rarely talked about as part of the work we do to ensure Calgarians and visitors can enjoy art throughout the city today and in the years to come. We work directly with the artist to ensure that the integrity and artistic vision of the work of art is not damaged during conservation.”

A joint decision was made between the conservation team and the artist to modify the work to facilitate long-term maintenance and preservation. The ideas were developed by a team of experts consisting of lighting designers, electrical specialists, engineers, experienced manufacturers, transportation experts and Calgary Transit.

Finding partners with the experience and ability to handle the scale and detail of conserving a large artwork was no small feat, says Lisa Easley, public art conservator for the City of Calgary.

“It's a complex project, many layers, and there's a high degree of complexity and skill to do this work, and there's very little type of facility,” Easley says. he eventually joined NOV Inc. in Calgary. (formerly National Oilwell Varcoe) has found a manufacturing and painting solution. “An oilfield equipment and technology company might not think it's a great place to process art, but we've found a solution to environmental requirements right here.”

Skilled welder/fitters repaired the damaged shapes and reconfigured the steel mesh they were installed in to facilitate long-term maintenance. Each piece is carefully painted and finished with a protective coating to ensure long-term durability and ease of maintenance in the future.

Although fine art is not a typical job for this vendor, NOV Paint Supervisor/Coordinator Sean Pitt says his teams are proud to be a part of keeping the painters' vision for the job.

“It might not look like it when you look around, but our people are artists in their own right,” says Pitt. “Everything we do here is art, it's just a different aspect and it's good for us to diversify, everyone is proud of it.”

Wingenback Ltd. the promoter-led reinstallation sparked a renewed dialogue about the role of public art in shaping a dynamic urban landscape.

“I am delighted to see this work of art restored to its original vibrant hues – warm colors on one side and cool on the other, creating a changing experience for pedestrians and train travelers of the pulse of the constantly moving city.” Anholt.

As with Center Street, Anholt hopes_ TransitStory_ will be a communal touchstone that connects commuters in a moment of shared experience, artistic contemplation.

“The transfer of the artwork to a new environment breathes new life into its narrative, inviting viewers to reinterpret its meaning in the context of a bustling transit hub,” points out Anholt. “Art has the power to transform space and create connections… It's really gratifying how the play integrates with the everyday rhythm of Calgary.”

During this morning's commute, CTrain riders took time to enjoy free coffee, chat with the artist and celebrate. TransitStory at its new location on the CTrain platform at 17 Avenue and 45 Street SW. This evening, Calgary Arts Development is hosting a reception with an artist and conservationist at 6pm at the Hellenic Cultural Centre, 1 Tamarac Crescent SW to register for the free event on Eventbrite. https://transitstory.eventbrite.ca. An ASL interpreter will be on hand.

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