The city is soliciting designs for the art around the forthcoming John Street bridge. Metrolinx and StreetARToronto are asking artists to solicit ideas for a mural project that will be installed on the panels running along the accessibility ramps.
The budget for the project is about $47,000, of which up to half can go to artist commissions, and the city isn’t looking for amateurs; only those with experience in similar-scale projects are invited to apply.
The city’s drawing of the bridge looks—at least to me—completely bizarre, like a plaza in Brasilia or a Spanish outdoor auditorium. Certainly, I know nothing about these things—but I confess to doubts about the number of people we will actually see lounging, flirting and reading on the steps in the winter or as trains go by nearby. I look forward to my error, however.
I can’t even imagine the logistics of keeping the steps snow/ice-free in the winter.