4 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, FEB. 14, 2019 ublic art has a cost to taxpayers, but projects that feature the art of students in busy places like SkyTrain stations can be a huge opportunity, said a former Langara art student. Alessia Macri, who is continu- ing her arts education at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, said it can be hard to get recognition as an unestablished artist. Macri has a piece she collaborated on at Langara called As the Crow Fiies that is installed on the side of the Langara—49th Avenue Canada Line station. “Our names are out there for everyone to sec,” Macri said. “Especially the fact that it’s next to the SkyTrain station and next to Cambie Street, so many people are seeing it. It strikes interest with them, then my name is on it, which is really great.” As part of an annual collabora- tion with the City of Vancouver, Langara students receive a budget to build an art piece that will be displayed in public. Public art is often the subject of controversy. In 2013, Trans- Link drew criticism when they revealed plans to spend more than $600,000 on art installations at three SkyTrain stations. Lois Jack- Student art, public eyes Public projects can propel students careers son, the mayor of Delta at the time, asked why the money wasn't spent ona bus. But Monika Blichar, owner and producer of The Art World Expo, said that Vancouver’s public art installations should get more publicity. She believes these pieces . “Tt also gives youa | status, a little bit of a credential — it puts you on the map that you've done something for the city.” — MONIKA BLICHAR, FOUNDER OF THE ART | WORLD EXPO can skyrocket an artist’s career because so many people have the potential to see them, especially in age of social media. “People from all around the world are taking, tagging and shar- ing those photos, which is some- thing that is so valuable for artists in their career,” Blichar said. “It also gives to you a status, a little bit of a credential—it puts you on the map that you've done some- thing for a city.” EDITOR NICK LABA Langara fine arts student Tina Neuyen said she felt validated when her idea was selected as the next art piece to be installed at the Langara— 49th Avenue Station. “It’s a great stepping stone and great publicity. It’s awesome that I’m getting support from the school to do this piece,” she said. Neguyen’s new piece will represent a 64-square-foot floor plan of apart- ment with no apparent living space. She said her biggest challenge was planning and budgeting for the project. “T had to use all of these diagrams, pictograms for how things were going to get attached, and the kind of shapes and sizes of steel I needed,” she said. The $1,000 budget may sound like a lot of money, Nguyen said, but it’s not when you consider that the piece, made entirely of steel, is suspended from the ground and needs to be weatherproof and safe for the people walking underneath it. Neuyen said there’s an estimated 600 pairs of eyes that can see these pieces every day. “Tye made some really good connections because of this and that’s a great starting point. It’s a really good thing for my future,” she said. Chores + photos Maxiin FOSS@ by ociuise fom Na meee bangara fine arts student Alessia Macri standing outside the Vancouver Art Gallery alled at the Langara-49th Avenue Station, but now is mounted ab h i campus. As the Crow Flies faces Cambie Street on the side of te Station Dougiee Coupla the Langara—49th Avenue Station. Douglas Cou ! Golden Tree stands on the corner of Marine Drive and Cambie Street. SeeSawSeat sits near a bus stop at Mair street and 51st Avenue. Coastal Lunar Lanterns, celebrating the Lunar New Year, was created by Taiwanese artist Yi Lun Yao featuring designs by local Indigenous artists. Langara fine arts student Tina Nguyen shows the plans for her upcoming public art piece.