About

Marko Simcic, Park - launched November 29, 2008
Commissioned by the City of Vancouver Public Art Program
Park consists of two mobile, stainless steel sculptures, each approximately the size and weight of a small automobile. The sculptures occupy curb lane parking spots and are relocated from time to time to various addresses along the length of a 60-block street in Vancouver. Residents can request the sculptures to be parked in front of their homes for intervals of 1 week up to 6 months.

Park Launch Event
Co-presented by the City of Vancouver Public Art Program, Other Sights for Artists’ Projects, and the Pendulum Gallery
Park was on public display at the Pendulum Gallery from November 3 – 29, 2008, before being towed to its first host’s address on the Ontario Street Greenway. Gallery attendees at the launch event helped to push the sculptures out of the gallery and onto waiting tow trucks. At both locations, special guests Stefan Smulovitz and Viviane Houle performed sound improvisations using manipulated recordings and voice. Smulovitz and Houle’s data-base of sounds included the grinding and sandblasting of the sculptures’ making, their pick-up and delivery from downtown to residential neighbourhood, excerpts from interviews with the tow truck drivers, and quotes from the artist’s lecture at Langara College on November 18, 2008. To hear the performance at the host site, click here.

Park Blog
With the assistance of the Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces, Other Sights formed a 5-person Documenting Team to help record Park’s launch from the gallery to the street. This blog chronicles each of the team-members’ thoughts, observations and responses to the project and it’s launch.
Documenting Team Members: Eva Sofia Garcia, Julie Lynn Jones, Millie Kuyer, Jason Prain, and Michael Thiessen.

Park’s Future
Park is programmed to occupy sites along the Ontario Street Greenway through to 2012. The future public presence of Park, in large part, will depend upon ongoing interest and participation by the citizens of Vancouver. For more information, contact the City of Vancouver Public Art Program, publicart@vancouver.ca or 604-871-6038.