NCC’s new artwork in Ottawa is a five-meter-long crow made from car tires
A giant crow perched along the LeBreton Flats Pathway in western Ottawa is the talk of social media, with responses ranging from “What is it?” and “you paid someone money for that” to “I think it’s cool” and “definitely interesting.”
The National Capital Commission on Tuesday unveiled the new public art along the trail, dubbed “When the Rubber Meets the Road” by PEI artist Gerald Beaulieu.
“Did you know there used to be a dump at LeBreton Flats?” said the NCC on Twitter. “In accordance with the #Breton Building guiding principle for promoting sustainability, this piece is made from recycled tires.”
The five-meter crow that sits right next to the trail is made entirely from recycled tires.
“This large crow lies flat on the ground in a manner similar to roadkill, symbolizing the clash between human and natural works,” says the plaque next to the statue.
“The crow is made of old tires, which refer to the damage caused by our commuter culture and to the crow’s role as a scavenger of urban waste. The artwork invites us to think about how we treat our environment and the creatures which are our shared spaces.”
In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the NCC says the piece’s one-year lease cost $14,022.
“The Canadian Heritage Department helped facilitate the project by connecting the NCC with appropriate options from previous public art selection processes,” the statement said. “This artwork was submitted by the artist in 2018 as part of a jury review of existing artworks for temporary exhibition at federally managed locations in Canada’s capital.”
Beaulieu tells CTV News Ottawa that his creation was designed to spark conversation.
“The comments have always provoked the challenge of people who are annoyed by it and people who absolutely love it, and that’s the best an artist can hope for,” said Beaulieu.
The piece “When the Rubber Meets the Road” uses 50 to 60 tires and it took Beaulieu a month to make the piece.
Beaulieu says the piece is about the “risks and rewards” of our interactions with nature.
“The idea behind it was simply to address the environmental impact of our society, when it collides with nature,” Beaulieu said Wednesday afternoon.
According to Beaulieu’s website, the work was previously on display at Art in the Open in Charlottetown and the Bonavista Biennale in Port Rexton, NL.
Social media posts by CTV News Ottawa and the National Capital Commission solicited hundreds of comments on the artwork and the federal agency’s decision to highlight the work.
“Haters gonna hate,” said a comment on the NCC’s Instagram page. “Well done NCC who clearly created a conversation around this piece.”
Another comment on Instagram said, “What an effective job expressing such strong reactions from viewers.”
“It may be art, but it’s also a distraction to motorists and cyclists,” said a comment on the CTV News Ottawa Facebook page.
People on Twitter wondered why the NCC had posted the artwork.
“This makes me sad. It’s a dead crow,” said one person.
“How much did this stack of tires cost the government?” said another comment on Twitter. “Did it just fall into a field. I’m no art connoisseur, but what is it?”
One comment said “April 1st was a few months ago.”
“Looks like a dead bird,” former earl said. Alex Cullen.
A Twitter comment said they need to check it out in person.
“It probably has more personal impact, like a lot of great art. Using recycled material is a great artistic technique.”
Beaulieu says he took pictures of the crow in LeBreton Flats on Tuesday and witnessed people’s reactions to the art.
“They were curious, they were talking about pictures,” Beaulieu said. “For the most part, they were quite curious and they were quite taken with it.”
The NCC says the art will be on display until June 2024.
The piece was loaned to the Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery in New Brunswick in 2022.
The gallery’s website said that Beaulieu “uses trusted materials to explore the boundary between what is natural and man-made, useful or harmful.”
