By Tyler Marr

Crosswalk art soon to be at the feet of residents

Jul 31, 2017 | 5:00 PM

A unique opportunity for accessible artistic expression will soon be at the feet of Prince Albert residents.

The city is looking to spruce up crosswalks and public areas downtown with art as part of its Municipal Cultural Action Plan.

“This was a simple project to get started with some public art to create some of that interest and excitement and something visually exciting for our city,” Judy MacLeod Campbell, arts and culture coordinator said.

Four crosswalks — Central Ave. and 15th St, Central Ave. and 14th St., Second Ave. W and 13th St. and two ramps at the Transit Station — have been selected to receive the designs. The Central Ave. crossings will have the ability to use various colours while other sites will be restricted to white, primarily due to safety.

Each will have either one design or a pattern of similar art. The cold plastic paint to be used is expected to last three years.

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The idea, according to Campbell, sprung from a desire to add to the number of art projects in the city but to do it at an accessible price point.

“Any kind of public art is costly,” Campbell said. “It is a huge undertaking and the budget that we have for public art is good, but it is a start.”

Many other cities across the province have launched similar projects, such as Saskatoon. Here, however, urban planning teams came up with the designs and themes. Campbell said she wanted to take a different approach and have artists pitch ideas.

“It can be creative. By engaging artists, it will be interesting to see what kind of designs come,” she said. “The Saskatoon [planning department] used their own — they had some themes like ice cream cones near shops — but it will be interesting to see some sort of creative things artists come up with.”

Five people so far have expressed interest in the program, a first of its kind for the city, according to Campbell. The expression of interest is open until Aug. 10 before the decision on the designs later in the month. The painting is expected to be complete this September.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr