About Those Signs at the Commercial Slip
Keith Helmetag, a partner with C&G Partners LLC, principal designers of the exhibits and site graphics at Erie Commercial Slip invited BRO on a personal tour of the area.
In charge of the project since 2002, Helmetag's firsthand account of the signage lends perspective one might not have without the insight he offers. Because the project has a way to go, and C&G has made themselves privy to online public opinion, such as what they've read on BRO, Helmetag felt compelled to explain the historical reasons that led to the current installations. He also seeks to weigh public opinion as a guide to C&G's future plans for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) project.
"The interesting thing about a project like this," Helmetag said, "is that there's no way to untangle the site from the architecture, lighting and graphics. They're done together, and it's everywhere you look." Helmetag thinks that part of the problem with some of the early public (negative) reaction had to do with the fact that "things went up piecemeal" but says that, "As a design practice, this is what everyone aspires to--where landscape and architecture come together as one interpretation."
Of the 13 signs and 2 maps that C&G designed for the slip, Helmetag said that all of it has a place in history, including the typeface used on the packet boats that moved products and people to and from this site.
"My opinion is that maybe the single parts weren't understood," Helmetag said of the early installations, "so this is a good time to look at what people want." Of the maps and panels, he said, "This is custom artwork from an upstate New York artist-- valuable, one-of-a-kind pieces. It's one thing to Google maps, another to commission and build artwork for a space."
He explained that the map that depicts the route from the Great Lakes to Long Island Sound was redrawn by a cartographer who had to "cobble pieces together", making it the only map of it's kind in existence today. The doorway that was erected is exactly where a doorway stood long ago. The glass that people look through from the sidewalk places the images on the glass exactly where they existed on the banks of the canal.
"If you go to Salem [Massachusetts], historical homes, boats, slips--are there. Everything was put back but the canal," Helmetag said. "There's a quiet interpretation there. We needed something strident here because nothing was here but the canal. What you see here is clean, but built on the basis of history. These are footprints of what used to be here."
He added, "And this thing rocks at night."
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Comment Options
sbrof
I actually really like the elements. not a fan of the green color.. but besides that I think they are very interesting. The layering of information with the physical site is quite unique. Sure we could have put up a bunch of blue plaques that are all over the state but these make an attempt to give glimpses of the place and life around the canal site.
It leaves a lot up to the imagination and that is where it becomes fun. Walk by that doorway and think about being there 150 years ago and that be the entrance to a saloon. What did the building look like? I don't know but at the same time I could imagine something.
same with the windows on the screen. The frosted glass gives some sort of surreal glimpse into that past. Remember we DEMOLISHED the real history with the buildings. The only thing we are left to do from here is interpret what we think happened and how things were. But I mean that parking lot was so instrumental to the livelihood of downtown that it warranted the demolition of an entire wharf community... You don't like these signs or the Bass Pro design... then don't support future demolition of what little real history is left in this town. That way we don't need to reinterpret anything.
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BuffaloRox
sbrof,
I understand that the green elements on the interpretive displays as well as the tacky "Commercial Slip" lettering were included upon the insistence of members of the ECHDC and not C&G or the architects.
BR
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benfranklin
On a cold January night, walking into HSBC, I first saw the 'antenna' next to the water, and wondered what in the world is that going to be. Mr. Helmetag should be congratulated for taking a risk, and having it work out. The whole is certainly more than the sum of it's parts.
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Jay
Its never a good thing when interpreative elements need interpretation.....
The intentional misspellings, fake doors, and fake brick walls at the Harbor don't seem to convey the right message to tourists, residents, and those who know nothing of the canal's significance locally or nationally.
If you want an example of what should be there, look no further than the National Park Service sign on top of the Commericial Slip "bridge". That sign is historically accurate, most likely was done by historians and not marketers, and portrays the site well.
Sorry but even bunched together the interpretative elements are a failure.
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Jay
btw overall there isn't enough substance. But if its any consolation, I do like the large map below the fake brick wall /stupid idea.
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SLEEPL8
I think it is a great start. I have walked through the commercial slip area twice in the past couple weeks and both times I felt more encouraged that Buffalo can have an attractive waterfront. Regardless of weather or not you like the color of the signs or the brick walls etc. you have to be encouraged by the project as a whole. As I walked the board walk I imagined what it would be like if the Casino was glowing in the distance and BassPro and a few restaurants were open and serving. People who comment on this site (myself included at times) always miss the forest for the trees. I hope the development keeps moving...with or without BassPro or the Skyway. Take them or leave them, in the big picture, the waterfront has a little more life with each completed project.
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Buffalopundit
Didn't like them before the project was done, but having been there, I like them just fine.
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davvid
The signs are fine. Overall the project is well done. I have yet to meet a person outside of this blog that found the signs offensive. I suspect this anti-signage group is a tiny minority.
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UrbanGuy
davvid exactly right. The signs clearly explain that they are used to represent the facades of former buildings. They make it clear what they are meant to convey. People who are standing in front of them will read and know what they are for. So when tourists, hopefully, come to the harbor it all gets explained. I doubt a car with a family from Illinois will drive by excited for their trip to the harbor, but then get turned away, screaming in disgust, when they see it from the road. They will, like everyone else, walk around the area, read everything to read and get an understanding of what all the signage is about. People need to stop looking at pictures and think its out of place or ugly, put it into context and it makes sense and is appropriate.
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chrishawley
No one ever objected the interpretative elements because they were put in peicemeal. I don't know where that comes from. They objected because the total spectacle of the football goal posts, the silly Commercial Slip sign in vintage fonts, the psychadelic depictions of the Commercial Slip over time, etc. etc., make a mockery of the original site elements.
They objected because the interpretive elements overwhelm the site and do a poor job informing the public - softly - of the importance of the Canal District in the history of the city and the country.
It is a hundred thousand dollars of fees down the tubes. Now the worry is whether they can even be taken down, now that ECHDC has haphazardly allowed its completion.
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