One of the most notable public art installations in Vancouver may soon be relocated. The Monument to East Vancouver, often referred to by locals as the East Van Cross, is at the center of a motion that Coun. Mike Klassen plans to introduce during the council’s meeting on Dec. 11. Klassen is advocating for city […]
One of the most notable public art installations in Vancouver may soon be relocated.
The Monument to East Vancouver, often referred to by locals as the East Van Cross, is at the center of a motion that Coun. Mike Klassen plans to introduce during the council’s meeting on Dec. 11.
Klassen is advocating for city employees to devise a strategy to move the Ken Lum-designed monument from its current site at the intersection of Clark Drive and East 6th Avenue to “a location that is more accessible and visible” for locals and tourists.
What’s the reasoning behind this?
His motion highlights that the monument’s existing environment is now partly blocked by ongoing developments — a new mass timber structure is about to be finished next to the monument — and that restrictions from private properties limit public visibility and accessibility.
“It’s essential that we empower the artist, and involve other relevant parties we need to consult with,” Klassen expressed during an interview on Wednesday. “However, I’ve always believed that the piece itself hasn’t received the recognition it deserves.”
The City of Vancouver commissioned the monument — which illuminates after dark — in 2009 as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Art Program. It was installed in January 2010, an event that Klassen witnessed personally.
“I was really thrilled about it,” he remarked, mentioning that he uploaded a video of the installation online at that time, which garnered several thousand views.
“It’s iconic, and I doubt there’s anyone who could argue that there is another public art piece that has achieved the same level of popularity, resonance, and connection with our city as the East Van Cross.”
Klassen noted that staff members from Mayor Ken Sim’s office have conferred with Lum regarding the potential relocation of the 57-foot monument. Lum indicated in an email on Wednesday that further discussions are expected with city staff regarding relocation possibilities.
“I don’t have much to share,” Lum said. “The head of Public Art reached out to me, and I responded, asking him to provide a few dates so we can set up a meeting to discuss the possible relocation of the Monument for East Vancouver.”
Lum mentioned that he has not yet received a response.
“So I don’t have much information apart from the fact that a city councillor proposed the idea to relocate the work,” he stated. “I’m unsure how advanced this idea is to move the work. I would hesitate to comment further without first engaging in a detailed conversation with someone from the city.”
Bob Rennie
Klassen’s motion recommends that any relocation plan “focus on private funding avenues, including developer contributions via the Public Art Program and other philanthropic collaborations.”
He is also advocating for the relocation initiative to be part of the city’s sponsorship and naming rights program “to help draw in potential sponsors and donors to support this effort while maintaining the monument’s artistic integrity and established public significance.”
Klassen made it clear in the interview that he is not implying that sponsorship would result in the renaming of the Monument for East Vancouver to something like the Rogers Monument for East Vancouver or the Scotiabank East Van Cross. However, he did mention realtor Bob Rennie, known for his extensive contemporary art collection in the country.
“I mention Bob Rennie simply because he is frequently noted as someone who’s connected to East Vancouver,” Klassen said.
“Bob is among the most accomplished individuals in the real estate and development sphere. There are others like him who have found great success in business. I would love for them to engage and express, ‘I want to participate in this project as a way to give back and honor my roots.’”
Klassen’s proposal to move the monument traces back to a rezoning application from 2018, which suggested the construction of an office building with a unique honeycomb-like façade on the property just west of the monument.
This 10-storey building is nearing completion and will become the headquarters for ICBC, which is currently situated in North Vancouver.
‘Significant cultural symbol and landmark’
During the application process, concerns regarding the future of Lum’s monument surfaced.
Tony Astles, president of real estate for Bentall Kennedy and spokesperson for the development, expressed to the Vancouver Courier at the time that the project team regarded the monument as “an important cultural symbol and landmark.”
“The design team has meticulously considered and honored existing public sightlines to the cross and has shaped the building’s mass to ensure an optimal experience of this important public art piece,” he stated, emphasizing that views from the nearby SkyTrain station and Clark Drive have been preserved.
A report compiled by city staff in 2019 related to the application mentioned that “public art strategists are exploring relocation possibilities for the artwork.” The report further acknowledged that both the city and Lum were aware of the planned private land development when the monument was installed on city land.
Symbol of East Vancouver
According to Lum’s website, Monument to East Vancouver was inspired by a graffiti symbol that has circulated in East Vancouver for decades. Over time, the symbol has been embraced as a representative emblem for East Vancouver, although its manifestation has generally been subtle rather than pronounced.
“This subtlety is, I believe, reflective of the deeper meanings encapsulated in the symbol,” Lum stated. “These meanings relate to issues of injustice, inequality, oppression, and the trauma associated with poverty and acculturation, particularly in relation to immigrant experiences.”
In the meantime, Klassen refrained from speculating about an alternative site for the artwork but emphasized that it will definitely remain on the east side of Vancouver, despite any potential lobbying that may surface for its relocation downtown or to another area west of its current position.
“You can be assured it’s not going to be shifted far west — it needs to belong to East Van,” he affirmed, reflecting on his high school days when the East Van cross symbol was omnipresent as graffiti, seen on skateboards and incorporated into apparel.
“That’s why I admire what Ken Lum has accomplished with it. He has transformed something that once evoked fear among some kids in East Vancouver into something iconic and almost whimsical.”
With contributions from Naoibh O’Connor
The suggestion to move the ‘iconic’ East Van Cross by a Vancouver city council member has sparked a mix of curiosity and concern among locals. While some may see it as an opportunity to rethink public space and accessibility, others may feel that relocating such a well-loved symbol could dilute its significance and the cultural identity it represents. It’s a complex issue that underscores the importance of community dialogue in decisions about our shared landmarks.