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2012-08-21 at 16:39

Getting a pulse: 3,000-pound art installed at EMS building

By Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com
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The new EMS building now has a pulse.

Public art at the Junot Avenue building was installed Tuesday afternoon. Titled Pulse, the nearly 3,000-pound stainless steel sculpture represents the lines from a heartbeat on an electrocardiogram. London, Ont., artist Scott McKay said when he first started thinking about the sculpture, the pulse line immediate came to mind.

“I naturally though about that line,” he said Tuesday standing in front of his work. “Is that heartbeat and that’s what I wanted to capture.”

Superior North EMS chief Norm Gale said the sculpture is exactly what the paramedics were looking for.

“We wanted something that reflected EMS but didn’t memorialize or didn’t glorify the profession,” Gale said.

“We think the artist Scott achieved that.”

“I’m very happy because when you look at it out front. It’s striking and it’s identifiable as related to the medical profession … it’s art, yet relevant and related.”

The whole project, from design to transportation, cost $75,000. Lights will shine on it so it can be viewed at night.

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Comments

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wayne says:
So back in May Norm Gale reported a shortfall of $400k in their 2012 budget for the 1st qtr. This 'artwork' cost $75k. Was there a huge surplus in the 2nd qtr? Artwork is not an essential expense for an essential service.
8/21/2012 6:10:42 PM
Boffo says:
Waste of $75,000 to be honest.
8/21/2012 6:27:29 PM
wayne says:
On TBTV this evening it was reported that many thought the $75k was too expensive. Gale countered by saying that considering the new building cost $11 million this was a small expense.

That folks is what it means to be nickel and dimed to death.

The EMS is not a tourist attraction. What's next? the Balmoral Police Station gets a $100k piece of 'artwork' installed that does not memorialize or glorify the profession? Perhaps a giant stainless steel doughnut sculpture?
8/21/2012 6:43:36 PM
jimmyboy says:
75 K is laughable...but not nearly as laughable as the BIG BUCK spent on the public art content down at marina park.!
8/21/2012 7:18:57 PM
TBDR says:
With the exception of the twin hockey sticks, I rarely if ever hear complaining about the artwork down there. In fact, I bring my kids down there all the time and people rave about the new park. If the park was empty like it was before construction, I'd give you some credit, but its had a steady flow of people every single time I've been there this summer. I've seen kids playing on the balloon statues, dozens of families enjoying the splash pad area, people in the tai chi park doing their thing, and people admiring the other artwork. Funny I've never seen you once down there however.
8/22/2012 11:59:14 AM
halfnut says:
another waste of money 75000 are you kidding me.that would have been a good portion of another ambulance
8/21/2012 8:04:25 PM
udecide says:
$75,000....FOR THREE BIRD HOUSES/ MAIL BOXES LOL......Thunder Bay you keep me laughing
8/21/2012 8:09:09 PM
ring of fire dude says:
Here I am busting my butt up North , I shoulda became a Artist .
8/22/2012 11:57:18 AM
Curious says:
Sorry, I don't want to offend anyone but I really don't see how they can call this hunk of steel "art". Did the same person that chose this chunk of steel also choose those rusty steel pillars at the marina - yuk!! I say this is defacing a beautiful building.
8/21/2012 8:48:10 PM
ForgotMyName says:
I'm sorry but did you just call the EMS building beautiful?

I can't help but think that it reminds me of a high school when I go past it. For $11 million you would expect something 'nicer'.
8/22/2012 8:43:44 AM
tbay99 says:
Well isn't this a 'critical' use of taxpayer money.
8/21/2012 9:42:23 PM
RealityCzech says:
That is nice! And relative! Unlike the pseudo-stonehenge that used to be outside the airport.
8/21/2012 10:01:14 PM
Curious says:
That pile of rock garbage in front of the airport which was a total wast of taxpayers money was the work of Ken Boshkoff...and he was voted in AGAIN!!! wake up Thunder Bay. Time to get rid of the jerks that are just there to get a free credit card and spend money that isn't theirs!
8/23/2012 7:51:11 AM
PersonaNonGrata says:
It won't be long now until Ontario's bonds will be as safe an investment as Greek Eurobonds with wise spending and investing like this; let me know how healthy that pulse feels when Moody's does their downgrade...
8/21/2012 11:23:44 PM
Tiredofit says:
Let's hope no one dies due to a shortfall in budget areas like supplies or life saving equipment, then you'll have NO PULSE and a very upset family.
More wasted money..... A true artist would donate his work for public display....
8/22/2012 6:48:24 AM
tsb says:
I think we need to put a bit more thought into this whole "art for art's sake" thing.
8/22/2012 7:06:13 AM
RelaxinginMurillo says:
I agree with the posters here that the money could have been spent on EMS equipment instead. Still.. if they were determined to add an artistic symbol to the building, kudos to Gale for finding an artist who did it for a reasonable price. Maybe this artist could have put the bent poles in for less than $200k.
8/22/2012 7:13:11 AM
The Badger Mountain Hermit says:
Let's all pretend our community is sophisticated, art-savvy and cultured.
8/22/2012 7:19:59 AM
yqtyqt says:
We're living in very difficult and challenging times. Public sector deficits & debts around the world are spiralling of control. Taxation is reaching unmanageable levels. The financial future for the next few generations is threatened and uncertain.

When I read the comments from Superior North EMS chief Norm Gale, it makes me wonder what world he's living in. Must be the gravy train world. His specific comment "the sculpture is exactly what the paramedics were looking for" leaves me wondering whether the paramedics would have thought the same thing if they had to pay for it out of their own pockets.

When the paramedics come looking for more money for wages & benefit upgrades, remember the artwork and what could have been.

I agree with the above comment - what a total waste of money. Great....another sacred cash cow standing at the taxpayers trough.

Add this to the waterfront bent hockey sticks and you have money that could have been directed to far better uses.
8/22/2012 8:23:59 AM
theonlyopinionthatmatters says:
what a joke,it is infuriating that in times like this money is still being wasted on pointless art.
8/22/2012 9:02:23 AM
dee16 says:
Heres an idea, instead of spending a gross amount of money on this "art" why not have a competition between high schools, with the trades classes. Groups or individuals can get together to make a piece of art whether it be welded or wood crafted. Allow the public to come view this art and have a vote for which piece of art should be put up at various locations. This will solve a few things, 1. SAVING MONEY, 2.LESS COMPLAINTS, 3. BETTER ARTWORK. This will also allows students to show their new learned skills.(or do the same contests that allows ANY person to submit their art work). I'm sure people would be willing to sponsor the competition by giving rewards OR maybe the money it will save will allow for a nice prize to be bought.
8/22/2012 9:27:06 AM
passlake says:
what a waste of money. that's nearly a full years wages for a full time paramedic.

it looks awful too. I've already driven by and I can't believe someone thought this was appropriate art for an ambulance station. NO art is appropriate. It's an ambulance station. Plant some trees and shrubs and call it a day.

New ambulance colours, new logo/crest, a new building and now this ridiculous art. All of which cost money that arguably didn't need to be spent. Is he advancing his own agenda or improving ambulance services?

I thought the idea of the art initiative (they actually have a co-ordinator for this!!) was to beautify spaces with an emphasis on clean and green??

In every sense of its intention, this art project has failed.
8/22/2012 9:48:10 AM
tblb says:
Good on them for making an effort to make a utilitarian building attractive as well. It seems most of the short-sighted commentators on this site would like us to pass regulations requiring that all public buildings must be the cheapest, ugliest structures that money can buy. Art and aesthetics have no place in the public sphere. Let's make TBay as ugly as it can possibly be.
8/22/2012 9:55:15 AM
passlake says:
the new EMS building, once landscaping is complete, is looking great as it is. this artwork isn't improving upon that. it's a 1000kg slab of bent metal (sound familiar Marina?) that detracts from the otherwise nice building.
8/22/2012 11:33:14 AM
barry medawin says:
I went to look at the sculpture last night around 7:00pm, and the setting sun reflected directly off the side, blinding me to any traffic around the corner. This is going to be a real hazard for vehicles coming and going.
8/22/2012 10:24:55 AM
Despicable_Me says:
Once again money wasted on so called "art", that looks more like some left over metal from a scrap yard welded together. About as nice looking as the Marina bent poles or the unfinished looking hospital. As usual not even local artist either.
8/22/2012 10:33:39 AM
jb says:
Let me guess, if it were up to you, a velvet painting of 4 dogs playing poker and smoking cigars would have been more appropriate to hang in front of the building. I'm not suggesting that this is money well spent or that a sculpture in front of an EMS building is going to enrich our lives but your comment and view on what is considered art speaks volumes about hillbilly self.
8/22/2012 2:29:32 PM
t-bone says:
look at all the art critics! wow. i will never understand why no matter what the story is on tbnewswatch, good or bad, there is always a flock of knuckleheads soapboxing about why its a waste of money, or ugly, or dumb or whatever. good grief people. this is part of the thunder bay mentality that i will simply never understand. put a sock in it already.
8/22/2012 12:23:21 PM
barry medawin says:
Ummm... it's a driving safety hazard sir! Maybe you want to get t-boned in your Hyundai by a large emergency vehicle making a turn onto the street, blinded by the sun reflecting of this thing??? Hmmmmm.

8/22/2012 2:20:35 PM
t-bone says:
right. a legitimate concern it is not sir. The art argument holds more water than this "hazard" nonsense. i know i know, the sky is falling too. Hyundai? Really? Keep your eyes on the road Barry!
8/22/2012 3:22:09 PM
TBDR says:
the only thing that p***es me off about this is that we have so many starving artists who do fantastic works in this town, and once again we award it to an out-of-towner. I won't complain about public art... I completely support having artwork... but lets try to support our own arts community once in a while.
8/22/2012 12:23:31 PM
Mastermind says:
Wayne. Nice jab at the police. Nothing to do with the story. Seriously!!!!!!
8/22/2012 2:30:53 PM
macdaddy77 says:
A city forester dude told me the city has no money to put hardware into our tree in order to save it.
I planted this tree decades ago and watched grow into a beautiful tree. It was their job to maintain it and the rest of them on my block but alas, no money.
But there is money for rusted poles and crappy art.
8/22/2012 3:12:58 PM
ring of fire dude says:
Maybe some more artwork in front of City Hall is in order , may I suggest a "FLATLINE" sculpture .
8/22/2012 3:27:28 PM
moonpie says:
I was thinking more like a big question mark???
8/23/2012 9:08:35 AM
youngintbay says:
wha wha wha whaaaaa. Give your heads a shake people and stop being typical thunder bayins. And bitch about every little change that happens to this city. no wonder no businesses want to come to this city. I think it looks great and and the art at the marina looks awesome. I agree with TBDR they need to start geting some local artists to put some stuff up and stop geting out of towners.
8/22/2012 4:00:23 PM
tbay99 says:
And its exactly THAT mentality that Ontario and Thunder Bay have such a huge deficit. Hey who cares what it costs it looks AWESOME! Why dont you plan a trip to Greece I hear its AWESOME right now.
8/23/2012 1:44:35 AM
grs says:
I have to suspect that the reason none of the recent art around the city was procured locally is probably the same reason people don't buy locally (ie, cars, groceries, clothes, tires, electronics, etc), that being cost. I can just imagine a tender going out for artwork with all the local responses coming in 10x as much and 4x as long to complete as the out of town responses.
8/22/2012 4:30:40 PM
Mazda323 says:
Dee16 your post on here was the most positive I've seen on this site. Hats off to you!!
8/22/2012 10:33:51 PM
wayne says:
Mastermind, why should the EMS (an essential service) have exclusivity to expensive artwork? don't the police and fire services deserve a sculpture? NO, which is why I asked, "what's next?" get over yourself and continue funding these essential services without asking questions as to where your tax dollars go. the City and Province needs blind sheep like you to open your wallets willingly.
8/22/2012 11:37:19 PM
moonpie says:
8 sheets of sheet metal - $600
Used mig welder, gas and wire - $1000

$75,000 in the pocket for a days work... PRICELESS!
8/23/2012 2:19:47 AM
trevor99 says:
dee16, like your comments also but I think many missed one valid issue.

Someone, anyone explain to me how Norm Gale has the authority to spend 75K on artwork. Who approved this. City Council? Some Board? or Just Mr. Gale himself?

Building this stuff, this sort of legacy piece is absurd and cannot be justified. Sure, everyone wants the building to look nice but this 11 million maybe could have been 10.

As for the Marina comparison, the bent hockey sticks are awful and a huge expense. And let's be realistic, after spending 65 million, there had better be more people down there.

Keeping on that theme.

Is anything else happening to the Marina or are we done.

Is the only project left the condo and hotel. If that is the case, then for 65 million, we may have been robbed.

Anyone know if anything else is in the works for the place?
8/23/2012 6:23:37 AM
listen to what he says:


Art is nice, but should come at a certain time.

I see the "pulse" design on the edge of the art, pretty neat.
It's $40K to $50K worth of stainless steel welded
together on its own stand fastened to a concrete pad. $75K.

Boy I need to think about calling myself an artist & take on a project or two??

8/23/2012 1:19:22 PM
moonpie says:
Looking at this picture, it looks like it would be quite large. I drove by it today and if I wasn't specifically looking for this particular piece of 'art' I don't even think I ever would have noticed it. It's actually quite small, I'd really like to know where the 75k price tag came from.
8/25/2012 1:44:55 AM
therealreason says:
Wayne and others; Maybe some things need to be clarified for you - Spending $75 000 on public art was not the "choice" of Paramedics or Gale himself. The City of Thunder Bay has a mandate that a percentage of the overall cost of any new city building be spent on art. The price is fixed at a percentage.

Whether or not you agree with this mandate, it doesn't change the fact that this was a requirement. These dollars could not be allocated to more ambulance services, or to other areas of the city. The dollars were marked for art even before the building began.

If you have a problem with this, vote for a different Mayor or Councillors who vow to change this policy before posting false claims on a subject you know nothing about. It will help you save face in the future.

As for the 11 million dollars spent on Junot Ave, know that over the lifetime of the building, this will actually save taxpayer's money over continuing to rent the dirty shacks the city was renting to house EMS.
8/26/2012 12:16:18 PM
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