This question came up in talking with Marko’s mother-in-law. We both agreed that the span of Ontario street captures a wide array of people, from the thoroughly residential, to the very transitory. She suggested that if people are curious enough about the pieces to stop and examine them, they will find an explanation for what the pieces are doing on Ontario street.
Her take on things was that if an art work arouses enough interest, its various meanings will reveal themselves. To others, it may simply seem like an out of place object causing confusion. But maybe confusion is okay, if it serves the purpose of provoking thought and having people re-examine their surroundings…
Here’s an interesting conversation thread on Edward Winkleman’s blog exploring the relationship between art and explanations: http://edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com/2006/08/does-explanation-destroy-art.html
