The long awaited 18th Street Community Park totems are in the process of being installed at the Urban Roots garden location on the city’s West Side (see back story). The majority of the fence is in place with the exception of the two gates. Those final additions should be complete by Friday.
I learned from a couple of the UB students that each totem takes about 10 minutes to level and about 20 minutes to weld into place. That’s a total time of half an hour give or take. Multiply that times 91 totems, and these students certainly have their work cut out for them.
Today was the first time that I had the opportunity to look at the totem pieces up close – the unique details found on each cement tower is impressive. There are plenty of bold designs and cutaways that can be seen from a distance, while smaller spaces have been left unfinished in preparation for handmade ceramic tiles to be added at a later date. The small round hole that cuts through each piece was necessary so that they could be lifted into place – reminiscent of the Carrera marble base used to anchor Achille Castiglioni’s celebrated arco floor lamp. Like any work of art, the individual pieces have all been signed by the maker.
The public art instillation reminds me of the monolithic rock figures found on Easter Island. The striking symbols counterbalance the rough-hewn nature of the cement. Depending on where the fence is viewed, it can appear either heavy and wall-like or light and fence-light. The concrete installation will quickly become a West Side icon. What a great sight to see when heading towards the Five Corners from Richmond Avenue.
The Totem Fence reception/presentation has been moved to Friday May 8th from 4-7pm, with a presentation at 5pm.