New Sculpture Courtesy Gateway BIA

Thursday, August 05, 2010 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The Gateway Business Improvement Association has added something special to the intersection of 20^th and Victoria Streets.

A new sculpture, of cart wheeling people, is the centre piece of the traffic island.

Entitled Commotion, it depicts people holding hands in an exuberant tumbling formation. It is meant to celebrate the diversity and cooperative spirit of the people living in the surrounding neighbourhoods, and indeed the entire city.

Designed by local artist Roman Muntener of Concept Design, the structure was hand cut and shaped from 1/2” and 3/8” mild plate steel sheets that will oxidize over time to result in an earthy rust colour. No matter the angle of your view point, the sculpture does exude a flowing emotion of joy.

The Gateway merchants who commissioned the work are proud to have kept it entirely local, from design to production to installation. Gateway BIA President John Enemark says the sculpture is a real community effort “We have a lot of talent in this community and we really wanted to make a statement”. The pieces were cut from metal by B.J. McKivett, the pieces then sent to Wolftek industries to be bent.

easuring 16 feet high by 32 feet in length, the sculpture will soon be accompanied by new landscaping on the site.

This sculpture may be their biggest project to date, m

Enemark won’t say exactly how much the sculpture cost “It is a gift to the people and City of Prince George.”

Over the past 15 years, the Gateway Business Improvement Association has spent about $1.5 million dollars on capital projects to improve the area. Those improvements include, decorative lamp posts, brick sidewalks, inviting benches, gardens, colourful banners, overflowing flower baskets, a huge mural and park, mature trees adorned with lights, and most recently, stylish street name signs and now, this sculpture. “Sure it’s a lot of money” says Enemark “but it helps our businesses too. We all benefit from the area looking better.”

The dollars spent come from the special business improvement tax levy for the Gateway area.

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Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: BCRacer on August 5 2010 5:48 AM

I don't think the location is the place to put this.
A park or place where children play would be a better location..

I don't have much of a problem with the sculpture ????, but rather the location

Posted by: Simon on August 5 2010 6:06 AM

I think the location is perfect, because the sculpture looks like a bunch of crack heads fighting over the last rock.

Posted by: whatintheheck on August 5 2010 6:11 AM

I think its a real eye catcher. Great location and great results from the Gateway Business improvement Association. Everything this association has done is well done and in good taste. Hats off to them....

Posted by: rodangus on August 5 2010 6:21 AM

Wondering where the precast concrete art work for the new Fraser Bridge is...Simon Fraser meeting the locals I believe it was.

Posted by: sunshine.north on August 5 2010 6:41 AM

It looks very cool. Definately a nice addition to the area. BCRacer is obviously the kind of person that just likes to complain and be contrary.

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on August 5 2010 7:48 AM

Very nice!

Posted by: herschel on August 5 2010 8:24 AM

Another job Well Done by the Gateway BIA. These businesses have set a great example for any other BIA to follow. They have made tremendous improvements to their business area and have enhanced the landscape of Prince George as a result. This has all be done without the politics and nonsense that the Downtown BIA suffers from. If the downtown BIA would sit back and take a serious look at the Gateway's success they could really learn something.
To the Gateway BIA...Thank you!

Posted by: Boudicca on August 5 2010 9:12 AM

it looks really cool but why is it just sitting on a patch of dirt?

Posted by: BCRacer on August 5 2010 9:33 AM

Not complaining Sunshine....
I just think it would be better elsewhere..even said I had no problem with the sculpture...maybe once all the landscaping etc is done...my opinion may change...I just thought a park setting would be nicer and more with the theme.
wish people would debate the issue not the people who have an opinion...

Posted by: interceptor on August 5 2010 9:53 AM

"the sculpture will soon be accompanied by new landscaping on the site"

Posted by: gus on August 5 2010 10:00 AM

If it were in a park it would have to have a high fence around it so that kids would not climb on it and kill themselves.

Besides, now that we are not allowed to use hand held communication devices, drivers need something else to keep their minds busy while driving around in a daze. :-)

Posted by: gus on August 5 2010 10:08 AM

"The dollars spent come from the special business improvement tax levy for the Gateway area."

You know, people complain about taxes, taxes, taxes.

I bet you lots of shoppers think that thy are not being taxed for this.

Well, I think you are. If you go shopping in the Gateway or the DBIA, the price the merchants charge on their products will need to reflect the cost of doing business. Those special levies are part of that cost of doing business. The merchants do not simply take the money from their profits. They up the price of their products if need to in order to pay for those special levy taxes.

Nothin' is for nothin'.

I like the sculpture and will take pleasure whenever I pass by it, I am sure. But it is the shoppers' dime more than the merchants in my opinion. SO thank the shoppers their for their generosity.

Posted by: opinionated on August 5 2010 10:47 AM

Roman Muntener is a shining star in this community.His sculpture is refreshing and delightful. Gateway should help the DBIA get their act together. Gateway gets things done.They don't make excuses.

Posted by: Fuzzy on August 5 2010 1:09 PM

amen herschel and opinionated..

Posted by: bitter on August 5 2010 9:54 PM

It's hard to live in area that no one cares about, so thank you to the Gateway DBIA, for the improvement in our depressed area.