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Sunday, October 4, 2009

More than meets the eye, or eyesore?


Each day, on my bus ride back into Hamilton from Toronto, I pass by city hall and Hamilton Place.  As I look to my left while traveling eastbound on Main St., I am always struck by how unattractive the area depicted in the picture to the left is. It's obviously very much exposed to those coming into our city, and thus it contributes towards the impression of our city. Not only is the area primarily concrete, which comes across as rather cold, but it features this rusted out scuplture of sorts. (see right above the Hamilton Muncipal Parking System, sign) .

I don't know what the history of this art piece is, and far be it from me to offend anything it might represent, but I can't help but observe that it has become something of an eye sore. Its rusted veneer and different coloured rust spots, doesn't really present well.

Does anyone know the history of this? Does anyone think it still looks good? Should it be removed? Does anyone else think it does not bode well?
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5 comments:

  1. Brian Henley +October 04, 2009

    I will pass on commenting on the eyesore or more than meets the eye question...my artistic sensibility is pretty lower class. Anyway, I walked past this piece every work day, and often on non-work days, for many years and never have understood it. It dates to 1977, its sculptor was Kosso Eloul and its title is Canadac. It is part of the Irving Zucker Sculpture Garden. It reminds me of the Stelco Tower which also looks rusty, but when constructed the builders promised that it would look a slate blue.

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  2. TomOctober 04, 2009

    From that angle, it kinda looks like those monoliths from "2001: A Space Odyssey". Hmmm perhaps like in Arthur C. Clarke's vision of the future, an intelligence far beyond our own planted it in central Hamilton hoping to spur an evolutionary leap forward.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y15NnGZIBuM

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  3. WRCU2October 05, 2009

    If I were contemplating balance or leverage,
    the piece is exhibiting a "tipping point."
    But if I am in a frame of mind where I'm
    looking for symbolism in objects, this
    looks uncannily like a telescope.

    The art form has done what it
    intended to do. It draws the
    eye away from the cold concrete
    to focus instead on the stiff & rigid,
    cocked blocks of welded rusty steel plates.
    I agree there is nothing warm and fuzzy about IT.

    But it is art and someone burned through a whole bunch
    of approvals, commissions and metal to put it there.
    I can think of a dozen ways to dress IT up without
    altering the basic structural form or fulcrum.

    But like Tom's link suggests, Monkeys See A Tall Slab.
    Judging by Cal's reaction, I don't think it in-
    spires an evolutionary leap forward.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MAWOctober 05, 2009

    I'm surprised it hasn't been tagged, like almost every other stationary object around town, like mail and hydro boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 05, 2009

    If its that rusty, I'm surprsied it hasn't fell on someone's head

    Elvis P.

    ReplyDelete

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