Unique blue heron to grace new highrise
Tricar Group wanted something 'special' for its downtown London building at King and Ridout sts.
By NORMAN DE BONO
The half-tonne blue heron sculpture that will adorn Renaissance tower downtown is a link to the nearby Thames River, helping connect the building to the city's natural geography and its traditions and history, says its creator, London artist Ted Goodden.
A blue heron will soon alight on a downtown highrise apartment building -- and the core's landscape may never be the same.
Joe Carapella, owner of Tricar Group and builder of Renaissance tower apartments, unveiled plans yesterday for a $100,000, half-tonne sculpture of a giant blue heron by London artist Ted Goodden, which will be attached to his building.
"When we first envisioned this project we wanted something special," Carapella said at the unveiling of a model of the sculpture. "This site warranted it and I think we have accomplished that."
Called The Great Blue Heron, it will soar at King and Ridout sts., with its head facing northeast, toward King St., attached to the building's side four metres above the sidewalk, "so no one can hang off it," Goodden said.
The five-metre-by-three-metre bird will be made of tubular steel. A circle of stained glass will adorn one wing, patterning the sidewalk beneath it with coloured light on sunny days. The coloured pattern will move as the sun changes direction in the sky. During the summer solstice it will illuminate the sidewalk below, while at winter's peak it will colour Ridout St., Goodden said.
He says the bird is a direct link to the nearby Thames River, helping connect the building to the city's natural geography -- as well as its tradition and history -- he said.
"It is about getting back to when the First Nations people were here, getting back to the things that were here for a long time. The blue heron is a symbol of that and they are still along the river.
"Just imagine it flying from the river and passing through the city and connecting to something enduring, wild and real."
Goodden recalled a blue heron was a "constant companion" when he took a canoe down the Thames River two years ago.
Andrea Halwa, director of the London Arts Council, applauded the sculpture and said she hopes it stirs a debate and discussion on public art.
"People assume public art has to be sculptural. We really welcome this change," she said of how the heron will be suspended above the ground.
The council called for proposals for a work of public art and received 14 submissions from across Canada. Goodden's proposal won over the jury.
Janette MacDonald, manager of MainStreet London, said the sculpture is the kind of attraction the downtown should embrace.
"It adds to the uniqueness of downtown. You see that and you know where you are. You cannot buy that kind of promotion for downtown," she said.
The big bird may be the first of many such works. The city has budgeted $160,000 a year to buy and install public art.
The Creative Cities committee will meet next month and public art will be on the agenda.
"It has been a long time since London has had public art," said Controller Gord Hume, chairperson of the committee.
"It is an expression of a city's heart and soul. It makes a statement as to what kind of a city we want. It is a statement as to what kind of community we are."
The city wants to work with developers, offering them incentives -- such as allowing higher density in a building -- if they offer to add art to their developments, Hume said.
As for Renaissance tower, in only five months Carapella has leased about 200 units. It's 75% full.
"It is the fastest lease I have ever had," Carapella said.
Norman De Bono is a Free Press business reporter.
norman.debono@sunmedia.ca
This is gonna look sweet, and it 75% sold
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