Ken Lum’s Monument for East Van!

November 26, 2009

Posted by Vancity Buzz | 17 »

This is cool as East Vancouver usually gets shafted when it comes to public art in the city, as Ken Lum noted him self in the Vancouver Sun article. Born and raised in East Vancouver I’ve seen this sign plastered around sporadically on back walls and such since I was like 8 years old. If you are from East Van you know all about the history of this symbol, some say it has to do with the various gangs that use to run things and make life miserable for those on the west side of town and others say it was just simple grafitti that became iconic over the years.

The public art work by artist Ken Lum is called Monument for East Vancouver. Placed on a ridge looking down on the False Creek flats, the 20-metre tall work will spell out — in the form of a cross — the phrase “East Van” with the two words sharing and crossing at the “a.” The words will be lit by white LED lights and surrounded in an outline of white LED lights. With the cross-shaped phrase mounted on a silver base, the words should look like they’re floating in space. The monument should also be visible for kilometres in several directions but especially to anyone approaching the eastside from the west.

The corner of East Sixth and Clark wasn’t his first choice. He wanted something on Main Street but after a community review, the city decided on the prominent spot-on city-owned land in an industrial area. The city hopes to have the monument installed by mid-December.

I would have liked to see this art erected on Main, Fraser/Kingsway, Collingwood neighbourhood or Commercial instead of the location it’s going in, but I guess this location is better than none. Knight Street is also going to get some sort of public art, which is also great news. All I can say is it’s about damn time the city starts to look east of Main Street. Yeah I’m looking at you Gregor!

East Van Rules…remember that.

Photo courtesy of Vancouver Sun

Surj

AAA yeah, we used to scribble that shit all over Gladstone when we where kids, brings back memories. This perfect for East Van.

East Van pride what!
Leung D

Luv it finally some love from the guvment! Vision Vancouver said they were going to be inclusive but yet all I see is more of the same shit!
Warren

Right on, gang symbols FTW
Anonymous

East Van Saints FTW!
Senses and Style

Lived in East van and went to Magee (West end). Remember taking the bus home, classmates were on the bus and overheard them whispering 'ooh….she lives in east van…..'
And now, on occasion, would see them hanging out around SOMA. I still live in cultural East Van.

Who's cool now?

- Teresa
Anonymous

I agree with Vancity Buzz; there simply isn't enough public art being situated in the majority of East Vancouver neighbourhoods.

There's quite a density of public art in downtown Vancouver, especially with the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale. More should be done to place works in vibrant, dense neighbourhood like Collingwood/Kingsway, Fraser/Kingsway, Main Street, Commercial Drive. Otherwise, it reaffirms the idea that public art in Vancouver is exclusive to certain neighbourhoods.
Anonymous

Fantastic. A gang symbol that people not in the know will see as a religious one. Great pick.

It takes a lot to offend me and representing my hood with this symbol has crossed my line.
Anonymous

not long ago I lived on the opposite end of China Creek Park. I thank my luck stars I moved prior to this unimaginative monstrosity was installed. What a waste of city dollars.
Anonymous

Yeah, kill my kid with Crystal Meth then use my tax money build a monument to the gang culture responsible. Great
Anonymous

What next, a giant "REPENT SINNER" billboard?
This art work does not fill me with pride as I return home to east van each night.
Anonymous

I live in East Van, very close to this sign, and I've been wondering what exactly we did to deserve this monstrosity. Really, all I ever did was pay my taxes on time, try not to make illegal left turns, and what do I get in return? The ugliest piece of crap anyone ever tried to pass off as "art". All I can hope for is that it'll ward off vampires. It's horrendous. It's an embarrassment. It's a blight on an otherwise lovely little neighbourhood.
KDMCG

Wow. Some people are so uptight. I was born and raised East Van and at 40 years old am still quite proud about it. Pride is certainly something Canadians know little about. Just ask someone what nationality they are and I bet that very few will say Canadian even though they were born here. So sad, really. The East Van Cross has not been a gang symbol for decades and is something that many kids, even today, scribble in their textbooks. I love the East Van Cross and feel a real sense of pride when I drive past it! It is pretty damn cool!
tyson

the cross is good
Anonymous

I love this symbol – i grew up on the westside (but now live on the east) and this was all over bus shelters when I was a kid. I see it as a real symbol of pride for an area of the city which has only recently gained any respect (or, notice, really) from people west of Ontario St. Go Ken Lum!!!
Alan

This is great location. Main street is too far west and too low elevation. East Van only really begins at Fraser these days.
Pingback: Monument For East Vancouver aka East Van Cross Explained « Vancity Buzz | Vancouver Blog
asdf

kill me now if the city decided to put more ‘art’ like this up in the collingwood area..i’m sure the value of my house would go down instantaneously when such cheap and tacky art goes up…sure art is meant to be interpretive and its all about freedom of expression, but who gets the vote on this?? the people who live in the community?? that cross definitely doesn’t come anywhere near to representing how i feel about how great vancouver is.

Ken Lum’s Monument for East Van!

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Ken Lum’s Monument for East Van!

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