The replica of Stanley Park's
| famous "Hollow Tree" weighs
15,875 kilograms.

It took more than 6,000 hours
to build.

The structure, made out of
steel, resin and gold, stands
over 13 metres tall.

Tipsy bus bench
fosters friendship

Community members gather around
a quirky public art installation

esidents of Main Street are

still issuing complaints about

a $100,000 poodle sculpture
that was installed six years ago.

But a bus bench with the func-
tionality of a teeter-totter doesn’t
appear to be drawing the same
amount of ire.

Local resident Genesis F irmalino
said he thinks the $30,000 public art
installation, entitled SeeSawSeat, is
definitely expensive, but the commu-
nity gathers around it.

“I saw some kids playing there. It
Creates a relationship to each other
and builds friendship,” he said,

Firmalino said he catches the bus
by the art piece every day, which is
located near Main Street and 51st
Avenue.

‘The city’s website states artist and
designer Germaine Koh intended for
the bench to transform the “passive
pause” of waiting for the bus into a
modest social activity. :

“It’s kinda sad that in
Canada, people who are .%
close to each other, like
neighbours, don’t.
interact withs

definitely help with the case of
bringing the community together,”
Firmalino said,

The artwork was designed to
resemble a typical bus bench and was
purposely placed close to an exist-
ing transit shelter “making the visual
reference clear,”

SeeSawSeat is one of three public
art projects developed through the
Main Street Urban ‘Transportation
Showcase. The stated goal of the
plan is to reduce greenhous
emissions and encourage
efficient transportation
Practices by improv-
ing pedestrian. @
and transit,
services, |