Œuvre d'art public

A Monument To a Lost Opportunity

Justin Wonnacott,  A Monument To a Lost Opportunity
Location:
King Edward et Rideau Street, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Artwork creator(s): 
Wonnacott, Justin
Text author(s): 
Wonnacott, Justin
Installation year: 
1992
Description: 

Dalle avec inscription dans le trottoir.

Text of the artwork: 

this land was in my trust.
I had one year to build a tiny
home to prove my sincerity
and care for this place. I built
nothing and lost it forever.

J. Doe 1826

Note(s): 

These words refer to a fictional opportunity lost by citing terms from the land grants to soldiers/settlers at the time of Ottawa's early British development. It was necessary to erect a structure of about the same size as this monument within a year of taking possession if you wished to retain/obtain a lasting title to the land. At the time this monument was installed this end of Rideau Street did not look too good - there were lots that had been vacant for a very long time. It is much improved today.

 

Source: Justin Wonnacott (2008). Wonnacott - Rideau Street.

http://aregeebee.net/pages/rideaux.htm