Charlottetown's arts advisory board gives public a sneak peek

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Imagine a 700-foot-tall Anne of Green Gables statue towering over the entrance to Charlottetown like the Colossus of Rhodes.

It seems a bit extreme, but it was one of the many ideas submitted to the city’s arts advisory board’s Imagine Charlottetown idea bank.

The board held a sneak peek on Thursday night at The Guild, which included a presentation of photos and written submissions gathered by the board from the public.

The advisory board has been collecting submissions for the idea bank, which is a public database of artwork ideas suggested mediums and locations to inspire more art in the city.

People were given a strip of paper with red dots and asked to place the red dots on the submissions they liked the most. People also jotted down new ideas on little sticky notes.

The most popular idea so far is painting large murals on the plain sides of buildings. One woman suggested a special artistically-created bench with a little sign on it that reads “Sit here if you want to have a conversation’’. Another idea was light installations in the city’s parks.

Karen Lips places a red dot next to an idea she liked at the Charlottetown arts advisory board’s sneak peek event on Thursday night. The board wants to add splashes of public art to the downtown and is asking the public for ideas. The sneak peek gave the public a chance to see what ideas they’ve received so far. Submissions are being accepted until March 31. - Dave Stewart

Max Knechtel, who volunteers with the artistic-run centre This Town is Small, liked a number of ideas he saw, adding that the city can take a page from other jurisdictions.

“If you look at places like Montreal, for example, they have great examples of integrating public art into their city,’’ Knechtel said. “Even Moncton is somewhere we could look to for some inspiration in terms of how they’ve integrated specifically things like murals into their downtown; their public areas. I’m very excited about the idea bank and the intention of it.’’

However, he’s more interested in engaging local artists to come up with their own inspirations than he is about the city coming up with an idea and asking artists to do it.

“A very important part of it should be engaging with local artists, so Charlottetown-based artists, P.E.I.-based artists; talk to them and see what they want to do and where they want to put it.’’

The arts advisory board is accepting ideas until Tuesday, March 31 at 4 p.m. They can be submitted via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, mail or dropped off at City Hall. Use the #ImagineCharlottetown hashtag on social media or email [email protected] or mail to Attn: Arts Advisory Board c/o City of Charlottetown, P.O. Box 98, Charlottetown, PE, C1A 7K2.

Need to know

Charlottetown’s arts advisory board continues to solicit suggestions from the public and businesses on what kinds of public art they would like to see in the downtown:

Ideas can be submitted via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email or dropped off at City Hall on Queen Street.
The mailing address is Attn: Arts advisory board, c/o City of Charlottetown, P.O. Box 98, Charlottetown, P.E.I., C1A 7K2.
Submissions can be written concepts, art suggestions and include maps, pictures and examples from other locations.
There is no restriction on ideas, which can range from sculptures and murals to light or sound installations.
The deadline for submissions is March 31 by 4 p.m.
By submitting an idea to the idea bank, participants agree to have their submissions made public.

Karen Lips said she liked the sneak peek, saying she felt re-inspired to come up with ideas.

“One idea I don’t see reflected here is the use of water,’’ Lips said. “I’d like to see more water used downtown, like different kinds of fountains and more enjoyment of water.’’

Lips would also like to see some unique “eye-catching’’ benches in the city’s parks where people would take selfies, similar to the John A. Macdonald bench at the corner of Richmond and Queen streets.

Barb MacLeod, chairwoman of the art’s advisory board, was thrilled with the turnout at the sneak peak.

“What is happening tonight is what I really hoped would happen, that the people who were engaged would come out, have a little look around at what’s happened so far and come inspired,’’ MacLeod said.

Top 10 ideas based on choices made from the public at a sneak peek recently of what they’d like to see in downtown Charlottetown in terms of public art: