Calgary Herald

Big changes in art policy gaining council’s support

Chiefs, Nenshi say Bowfort Towers not Indigenous artwork following backlash

- ANNA JUNKER ajunker@postmedia.com Twitter.com/JunkerAnna

The future of Calgary’s controvers­ial art policy is now uncertain, with eight councillor­s and Mayor Naheed Nenshi voicing support for major changes, including improved public consultati­on.

The growing council support for the changes came as Nenshi and the Treaty 7 chiefs released a statement that says Bowfort Towers was never “meant to be an Indigenous artwork nor inspired by Indigenous themes.”

The Bowfort Towers unveiling in early August caused widespread debate and scrutiny over the $500,000 price tag and had Indigenous people calling out the art piece for looking too similar to traditiona­l Blackfoot burial scaffoldin­g.

The public and councillor­s called for more consultati­on across the board.

“I’m not interested in public votes on every piece of art. I don’t want a Boaty McBoatface situation,” Nenshi told reporters Thursday, referring to a public poll to name a British research vessel.

“I certainly think we can do a far better job in helping people gain ownership of what we do by bringing them into the process, because, after all, in the end it all belongs to the people.”

Sarah Iley, the city’s manager of arts and culture, said when the artwork was revealed, its four sentinels aligned with Blackfoot culture and the importance of the number 4, which represents the four seasons, four directions, four elements and four stages of life.

The statement, released Thursday morning, said that given the significan­ce of the land on Treaty 7 territory, the city asked the artist, Del Geist, late in the design process to consult a Treaty 7 knowledgek­eeper about the project.

“When the art was unveiled, the city’s statements may have left the impression that this was meant to be ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Indigenous­inspired’ art,” read the statement.

“While it was not the city’s nor the artist’s intent — he has been building similar structures around the world for many decades — some have interprete­d the piece as traditiona­l burial scaffoldin­g used by Indigenous people in this area. That was not the intent of the artist, and the traditiona­l knowledge-keeper did not identify that interpreta­tion when the design was revealed.”

The statement recognizes the city tried to be respectful, but there was a “misunderst­anding that has led to much discussion, debate and hard feelings.”

Postmedia attempted to contact Iley for comment but was told she was out of the office.

The statement also suggests two ways of moving forward: include more public input and input from Indigenous people, and commission more art from Indigenous artists, especially local ones.

The joint statement comes after Coun. Shane Keating announced Wednesday he’s putting forth a motion with councillor­s Sean Chu, Diane Colley-Urquhart, Andre Chabot, Joe Magliocca, Peter Demong, Ward Sutherland, Ray Jones and Nenshi to freeze the public art policy until further notice so they can take a look at possible changes.

Keating says the intended freeze won’t cancel the art policy, nor will it stop the collection of funds for public art, but halts any engagement and contract signing until council revisits the public art policy.

“I think we need to move away from the concept the artist gets to decide what it looks like,” said Keating. “The taxpayers are actually commission­ing the artwork and they should have a very large say in what the final piece should actually look like rather than the artist’s interpreta­tion.”

The aim of the motion is to increase public engagement, design a better selection process and consult appropriat­e cultural groups when dealing with public art proposals, said Keating.

The motion will be brought forward for debate when council reconvenes Sept. 11.

The taxpayers are actually commission­ing the artwork and they should have a very large say in what the final piece should actually look like.

 ?? DARREN MAKOWICHUK ?? Indigenous people raised concerns about the lack of consultati­on for Bowfort Towers.
DARREN MAKOWICHUK Indigenous people raised concerns about the lack of consultati­on for Bowfort Towers.

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