CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — If it was up to Barb MacLeod, there would be splashes of colour all over Charlottetown.
But, the chairwoman of the city’s arts advisory board wants to know what every resident and business person wants to see when it comes to adding more public art across the capital city.
The project is called Imagine Charlottetown and MacLeod and her volunteer board have created an idea bank that will act as a public database of artwork ideas, suggested mediums and locations to inspire more art in the city. The idea bank will be presented to city council for future consideration and potential use.
During a walk through downtown Charlottetown on Monday, MacLeod stops at any building that has blank wall on the side and immediately imagines what could fill it.
“That building, it’s just this great big, blank space (on the side wall),’’ MacLeod said, staring up.
She think it would be a prime spot for a large, beautiful mural.
MacLeod has been spending a lot of time in Montreal visiting her son who lives there. She often walks around the city and is struck by the colour and vibrancy. It’s a city that has become known for its impressive mural art.
“It seems to really brighten up corners and intersections and neighbourhoods and I thought, ‘Why don’t we do that here?’.’’
Submissions to the idea bank can be written concepts, art suggestions and include maps, photos and examples from other locations. There are no restrictions for ideas, which can range from sculptures and murals to light or sound installations.
MacLeod acknowledges there is a lot of existing public art in Charlottetown but she doesn’t think there’s a lot of “splashy art’’. However, MacLeod is quick to add that’s just her personal opinion and that the board welcomes feedback from citizens on what they don’t want to see.
Charlottetown’s arts advisory board is soliciting suggestions from the public and businesses on what kinds of public art they would like to see:
- Ideas can be submitted via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, mail or dropped off at City Hall on Queen Street
- Mailing address is Attn: Arts advisory board, c/o City of Charlottetown, P.O. Box 98, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7K2
- Submissions can be written concepts, art suggestions and include maps, pictures and examples from other locations
- There are no restrictions on ideas, which can range from sculptures and murals to light or sound installations
- Deadline for submissions is March 31 by 4 p.m.
- By submitting an idea to the idea bank, participants agree to have their submission made public
Coun. Kevin Ramsay, chairman of the committee responsible for art, said there was no hesitation to act when MacLeod made a presentation recently on Imagine Charlottetown to the economic development, tourism and events management committee.
“This is a stellar project that, at the very least, will encourage people to use their imagination,’’ Ramsay said. “We encourage people to submit their ideas and have fun with it.’’
For those looking for a bit of inspiration when it comes to ideas of public art in other communities, the board has created a slideshow that shows some examples. Go to Charlottetown.ca/imagine. There are large, impressive pieces of art and there’s very small, whimsical stuff.
And, MacLeod is asking people to think beyond buildings and streets, and imagine art in the city’s parks, too. Perhaps some urban furniture or checkers or chessboards like those on Victoria Row.
MacLeod said she or another one of the board members will be reaching out to the City of Montreal to find out how all those murals get done, how they’re financed, who’s doing the actual work and how they choose which submissions they pick from.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, March 31 by 4 p.m.
A few images from the idea bank. The full slideshow can be found here.
