justinwonnacott

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public art in ottawa and gatineau

The hunt (detail) - Christopher Keene 1986 - Justin WonnacottPhotographs of public art commissions and works of art in public places:

75 images from this project can be seen online here

Like many other photographers, I have often made pictures of art for institutions and artists. While doing this I have learned much, made many friends and occasionally a little money. However much fun doing that kind of work is, my satisfaction from it has always been tempered by the creative limits placed on me as someone else's hired "shooter". The client always provided the subject, approved the treatment and judged its success. I have tried to make work outside of those constraints. The pictures are of artworks from the National Capital Region. This project has several dimensions.

There is the documentary component that designates a time, place and creator (usually) to the works photographed, notwithstanding this; the project is a creative endeavour rather than an index to public art in the capital region. I have picked and chosen according to my interests and I photograph them as I please . Some of the artworks are displayed at a distance, in some cases merely a detail is seen or the artwork is not the strongest part of the image.

CJ Fleury - the Dorothy O'connel monument to anti-poverty activism - Justin Wonnacott I am doing this because of my curiosity and affection for these objects and as a creative mechanism for learning and knowing. With these images I hope I can articulate some ideas and and connections that I see and put questions about living with this kind of art which is a such a defining aspect of seeing my city. As this project has  grown larger (- currently there are at least 250 images) many themes and issues become easier to see and illustrate.

These pictures engage a wide spectrum of material including temporary public works, graffiti works, commercial appropriations of well known artists, monuments and works made within the exotic territory of the contemporary fine arts milieu – present and past. There are good, bad, neglected , expensive, forgotten , reviled, sentimental and sometimes wonderful things that suggest issues common to much of our public art in our cities. What is it for? Who paid for it? Has it lasted. Should it last? How does it work? What does it mean? And what does it mean to me?

Somalia - Garry Neil Kennedy - Justin Wonnacott photoBerzerker - Grafitti work at Stirling Ave - Justin Wonnacott photo
The pictures are accompanied by brief texts that tell you the name of the work, the artists, where it is and who owns or commissioned it. Sometimes, there are additional texts which discuss issues that are relevant to thinking about public art in more general terms.


Bruce Garner Territorial Perogative - Justin Wonnacott photo

"Territorial Perogative" by Bruce Garner, Bronze 1980. Commissioned by the Sparks Street Business Association. This is located at the intersection of Elgin and Sparks streets and the view is north east to the War Memorial, the Chateau Laurier Hotel and the locks of the Rideau Canal. This sculpture occupies a prime location of historical and political interest at one of the busiest tourist areas in Ottawa. Sparks street was a prosperous commercial area in old Ottawa which became a showpiece pedestrian shopping mall in the 1960's. In recent years it has lost much of its retail trade because of the retail success of enclosed shopping malls and due to the growing proportion of space on the north side of the street that is dedicated to the federal government as a tenant. To respond to this the sparks street mall has added artworks, many design enhancements and a great deal of custom built street furnishings as a means of enlivening the street - and as a consequence, business. Animals as metaphor are frequent motifs in the public art around the area.


Boat Sight - John McEwen, an NCC commission Justin Wonnacott - Photo



" Boat Sight " John McEwen 1984, an NCC commission, Gatineau Quebec


Jordi Bonet, NAC Ottawa - Justin Wonnacott photo


Cast aluminum doors by Jordi Bonet commissioned in 1969 for the Salon of the National Arts Centre on Elgin Street in Ottawa. The following is taken from an NAC publication:

An Advisory Committee on Visual Art chaired by Donald Buchanan was appointed in 1964 by the Canada Council to work with architect Fred Lebensold to acquire art - whether through closed competition, commission or direct purchase - for the National Arts Centre.The committee agreed that art for the National Arts Centre should reflect its own time and should fall into three main categories 1) art built into the complex 2) art that should have a practical function 3) independant decorative art that would embellish the complex.



lloyd Pinay - Aboriginal War Veteran's Memorial Justin Wonnacott photo


" National Aboriginal Veteran's Monument" by LLoyd Pinay, 2001. This image was taken in mid July at approximately 10.20 am as the Governor General's Footguards marched from the Armory building on Elgin Street to Parliament Hill for a parade and inspection. This NCC commission is located on the official "Ceremonial Route". The NCC distinguishes between commemorative works, memorials and art in its plans for our capital.


General Idea- Canadian Shield , Justin Wonnacott photo

Detail of "Canadian Shield" by General Idea . ( A.A.Bronson, Felix Partz, Jorge Zontal). On the facade of the Ottawa Courthouse (provincial courts) , 161 Elgin street. 1990, crushed stone and fiberglass resin. Commissioned by the province of Ontario.

Robert Tait Mackenzie, William Doughty 1937 Justin Wonnacott photo


Robert Tait Mackenzie, Sir William Doughty 1937, . North Courtyard behind the Canada Public Archives and Library


Bill Vazan, nest ca 1992 Justin Wonnacott photo


Bill Vazan, Nest ca 1992; Located on the west lawn of the National Gallery grounds.