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FM
Former Member

Aboriginal artwork to brighten up south LRT line

Stakeholders hope project will help fight discrimination

 

Artist Bluebird Chloe Mustooch with two of her South LRT orginial aboriginal art panels.

Photograph by: Ed Kaiser , Edmonton Journal

 

EDMONTON — A collection of aboriginal artwork will be displayed along Edmonton’s south LRT line as a means of fighting racism in the city, say those involved with the project.

 

The pieces — 15 colourful panels depicting nature — were created by three local aboriginal artists and unveiled at city hall on Tuesday morning. Each design will be duplicated and installed as mirror images at major intersections on 111th Street between 57th Avenue and 29A Avenue.

 

“Racism is very alive and it’s being promoted, so we have to come up with some type of understanding on how to minimize or combat racism,” said Howard Mustas, an elder in the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, whose granddaughter Bluebird Chloe Mustooch is one of the commissioned artists.

 

“I’m very much convinced that more of this has to happen, not only with aboriginal people but with all ethnic groups. For every negative incident that is reported to the media there are 10 or 12 positive things, so we need to capture that.”

 

Mustooch, 20, agreed that it’s important for artists in her community to get positive exposure. She created four pieces featuring the wild rose, a herd of mixed animals, horses and a big horn sheep — Alberta’s provincial animal.

 

“All the natural animals that are around here, that’s what my inspiration was,” said Mustooch, who attends Emily Carr University in B.C.

 

She said having her work seen by the whole city is a rare opportunity.

“It’s going to be there for a long time, so it’s good to have my mark that I made on the city.”

 

The $50,000 project was sponsored by the city and the Edmonton Arts Council.

 

Mayor Stephen Mandel said similar efforts such as proposed plans to focus on First Nations heritage at Fort Edmonton Park should be made a priority.

 

“We need to begin to let people know how much respect we have for the talents and contributions that are going to make this a much better place to live,” he said.

 

Having examples like Mustooch in the aboriginal community can be used to help motivate other students, said Sean Lessard, an aboriginal education consultant for Edmonton Public Schools.

 

Lessard has been working with Mustooch for years and previously got her involved in an aboriginal homelessness campaign. Once people saw her art, they wanted to know more about her, he said.

 

“All we talk about is usually the 50-per-cent dropout rate but there are also these beautiful stories,” he said.

 

“It’s shifting our story and reaffirming a piece of our identity.”

 

Each image has been inlaid in laminate and topped with a special UV coating to help withstand the elements.

 

The other two artists involved, Jason Carter and Aaron Paquette, were not at Tuesday’s event. Carter, a painter and carver, was featured at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and Paquette is known for drawing on his mixed background — Cree, Cayuse and Norwegian.

 

makrishnan@edmontonjournal.com

Twitter.com/ManishaKrishnan

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South LRT line gets new art

 

Allison SALZ, QMI agency

22 Aug 2012, -- 24 Hours Edmonton -- Source

 

 

THIRTY PIECES OF ART ARE TO BE INSTALLED TO ADD SOME ‘PIZZAZZ’ TO THE DRAB AREA

 

Riders will soon be treated to some artwork along the south LRT line — but one resident says he’s worried it will become a huge distraction for motorists in the area.

 

Thirty pieces of art are set to be installed on monuments adjacent to the south LRT line between 111 Street and 57 Avenue and 29A Avenue and Saddleback Road.

 

Three First Nations artists — Aaron Paquette, Jason Carter, and Bluebird Chloe Mustooch — contributed the pieces, which are part of a special project not commissioned under the city’s Percent for Art program.

 

The city says they’re hoping to add some “pizazz” to a drab space — while showcasing some talented local artists.

 

“We are happy to have worked on this project and especially pleased to be showcasing these young Aboriginal artists who have strong connections to Edmonton,” said Kristy Trinier, public art director for the Edmonton Arts Council.

 

“There is significant talent here, and the results are beautiful.”

 

But 58- year- old Darwyn Pearson— who has lived in the area for over 21 years — says between the LRT line itself and the heavy traffic flow, the new addition spells trouble.

 

“It’s a major distraction on an already narrow road,” he said.

 

“Drivers might then think they want to look at this artwork maybe. That takes the eye off the car in front, and I can just see a major mess happening down there.”

 

The city contributed $40,000 and the Edmonton Arts Council contributed $10,000 to the creation and installation.

 

Scott Hennig from the Canadian Taxpayer’s Association says the price tag isn’t as outrageous as the infamous Talus Dome, which cost $600,000, but adds that the city could have looked at other avenues to fund the LRT murals.

 

“It’s not as crazy expensive, so that’s nice. We’d always prefer that it would be paid for by a non-profit or a corporate sponsor, because the city is crying poor constantly,” he said.

 

“I think there are options that the city could look at to get the artwork into these places.”

 

City art has often ruffled feathers — the most controversial being the Talus Dome, a pile of 900 steel balls, which sits at the corner of White mud and Fox Drive.

 

The structure stands nine metres high, and was funded by the Edmonton Arts Council as part of the Quesnell Bridge Expansion.

 

It has become somewhat of a running joke among residents, one even posting a giant price tag on the structure that read, “$600,000 — Edmonton, have you lost your marbles?”

 

The city also unveiled a parade float for this summer’s Capital Ex Parade that left many shaking their heads.

 

The $80,000 balloon float featured more than a dozen spheres symbolizing local culture, sitting atop green and blue strips — meant to represent the river valley. While Mayor Stephen Mandel called the float “brilliant,” one resident said it looked like “a giant pair of lips.”

 

Just last week the city unveiled the first of six colourful garbage trucks wrapped in art, which will roll through neighbourhoods across the city.

 

 

The trucks cost $ 9,000 apiece to wrap and were designed by three artists hailing from Edmonton, Lethbridge and Calgary.

FM

DG, doesn't the LRT have issues especially during the winter months?

 

In Calgary, the E train runs down the center of the highway and I was informed that winter months can take its toll on the train and tracks.

Also some issues with traffic at times.

 

Scarborough has a LRT and we have the same problem.

cain

Cain .. Edmonton does not have much difficulties as other systems in Canada. Much of the system is underground, though with expansions, new sections are above-ground, but well protected.

 

There were a few accidents and errant issues, but it is quite safe and efficient.

FM

Ahha, underground/well-protected ( by that I'm sure you mean it has some covering) Our LRT runs above ground and so does the one in Calgary, there lies the problem.

 

We've had fights between building more LRT's above ground or subways. For me, subways are a bit costly but in the long run, better for business.

The only thing negative about subways are the jumpers. It seems each week someone tries to stop the train by jumping in front of it.

We don't hear much of this on the news but I have buddies who go to the scene and take on the dirty task of power washing parts of the tracks.

cain
Originally Posted by cain:

Ahha, underground/well-protected ( by that I'm sure you mean it has some covering )

 

Our LRT runs above ground and so does the one in Calgary, there lies the problem.

Yes indeed, Cain .. underground, well covered and protected.

 

The system is well designed in that a person can walk underground to numerous places through the network passageways to transact business, eat at well established places, purchase numerous things including groceries, etc..

FM

Cain, I heard Canada is running low on cash. You guys can invest in Jagdeo's begging bowl. It works for Guyana and it can work for Canada as well. Begging is the equivalent to the Nigerian con game with a puppy dog face on. 

FM

Come on Cobra, you're getting the wrong info.

 

You heard that a good blackman is one that doesn't breathe.

 

You then heard that Mitt Romney will win the USA election

 

Now you're hearing that Canada is going broke.

 

Banna you see this is what's happening to you, you've been listening to the wrong people.

 

You gotta start listening to the good guys here, I'm sure you know who I mean, correct?

 

I gotta go, bed's calling.

cain

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