Public Artwork
Bruce Eriksen Place
Artwork creator(s):
Williams, Blake
Text author(s):
Williams, Blake
Installation year:
1999
Remarks on location:
Downtown Eastside
Description:
Above the first floor of the building, 6 silkscreen-photo ceramic murals depict Bruce Eriksen and his activities. There are also 15 balcony text panels, each featuring one word: "share", "change", "vote", "vision", etc.
Text of the artwork:
COMMIT DREAM SHARE VISION DIGNITY HOPE VOTE HOME WORK RESPECT
CHANGE ELECT TRUST VOICE COURAGE
SKID ROAD DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
[The following are from protest placards, 70s era - author unknown]
ON STRIKE FOR UNION SHOP
WHY IS THERE CHILD POVERTY
ELIMINATE THE SOCIAL DEFICIT BAN POVERTY
FOOD, HOME, HEALTH + EDUCATION NOT GREED
Memory is the mother of community. - Sandy Cameron
THE LAW
BY ITS MAJESTIC EQUALITY FORBIDS THE RICH
AS WELL AS THE POOR
TO SLEEP UNDER BRIDGES
BEG IN THE STREETS
AND TO STEAL BREAD - Bruce Eriksen
Text theme:
Overcoming a physical disability
Artwork theme:
Resistance to gentrification, anti-poverty demonstrations and the typographic message; Eriksen’s ideals for communal and social living and working conditions as well as defying the culture of hopelessness that this neighbourhood has come to represent.
Artist's biography:
Blake Williams Document(s):
Syndicate
