Vancouver is heavily blanketed --thoroughly in the dark. Not finding much about this on-line aside from something by the press secretary of the Federal Transport Minister, I feel compelled to report here on the three latest cover-ups:
The beloved winter weather pattern known as thermal inversion has been particularly extreme in the last few days. In the majority of the city a thick layer of cold fog has obscured any vista beyond our noses, while up on the north shore mountains a distant sun is somehow warming up the forest and ski hills to cause the region's air stop still. Down here the city's air is trapped, growing denser and denser. I feel entirely privileged to have had a chance to get up on a ski hill last week where I could gaze out at the largest, thickest, whitest, blanket I had ever seen. It had the look of a thick spread of blanket filling ('poly-fill'?). What would it be like to contain all of that fluff into a big, knotted patchwork? A huge crazy quilt that could incorporate the city's every discarded T-Shirt, soccer jersey, towel and worn jean jacket (even the lost gloves could be appliqued on to the surface). It would be a major public work of covering up as well as cleaning up!
On a smaller scale, there is the Blanket Bus that Instant Coffee has launched as part of 88Blocks: Art on Main. Their project A BRIGHT FUTURE (2 altered buses, a light therapy bus shelter, and permanent sandwhich boards) is the inaugural artwork in TransLink's first ever public art commission. Last night's launch at VIVO Media Arts Centre (1965 Main Street) was energized by speeches from politicians, public arts beauraucrats, and consultants who were clearly very thrilled to see the marks of a vibrant art collective on the streets and buses. [Aside to consider: many words and much optimism and enthusiasm of many official sponsors and planners + from their brochure, Instant Coffee's: "Say Nothing in Bright Colours"?] Instant Coffee has mastered and commanded a day-glo, directive aesthetic. In their projects, industrial and street construction colours and finishes are put to work for gatherings and socializing. It reminds me (and reminds me and reminds me... every time those invaluable emailings that they send with the hot, top art happenings in town) that to socialize as an artist is to work, work, work the crowd. But now we artists can get relief from all of that hard, hard work of partying around the cheap wine table by going to the bus shelter that Instant Coffee has installed at 20th and Main where the therapeutic lights will combat our collective Seasonal Affective Disorder. Unfortunately the free therapy booth will only last for the remainder of this winter. Unless of course this public art will mobilize the public to advocate for more humanitarian design and less screaming advertising in their daily life, along their daily path. And while after all that art-inspiration we are actively advocating for ourselves, wouldn't it be great to suggest that the bus be filled with real afghans so that those who have to sleep on the bus can at least get some comfort?
Finally, in the cover up report: this morning the provincial government passed legislation to forgoe a public referendum requirement for the city to assume financing of the $1 billion Olympic Village construction project. At a current price of $87 thousand/day in interest charges, this site is becoming the first choice for participants in the project Covering Up Download Coveringup . Meet us there next Sunday at 10:30am for a group photo session.
I'm intrigued with the "Cover-Up" idea and look forward to results of the project. Snow is a great cover-upper. The rusty, banged up derelict cars in the back yard of the property down the lane have been covered up this January, as if all has been forgiven. But soon the sun will uncover everything and truth will emerge.
Sarah K
Posted by: Sarah K | January 27, 2009 at 06:53 AM