Peter Owusu-Ansah at the Broadway-City Hall Skytrain Station

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inCities, LadyBudd, Public Art, Sunday Evening Reflection, VancouverTags:, , , ,

“I am a Deaf visual artist. Being Deaf, I experience life in a profoundly visual way. I believe that seeing is a language in itself, because seeing anything can produce reactions like any language does.” Peter Owusu-Ansah

There is a new art installation by Peter Owusu-Ansah located at the Broadway-City Hall Skytrain Station. The colours vibrate against the grey cement and windows, welcoming passersby to pause for a moment and experience the language of Peter Owusu-Ansah

The Broadway-City Hall station, at the corner of Broadway and Cambie, is one of the busiest in Vancouver, a reminder of how public transportation provide benefits to individuals, communities and the local economy.

Buses, light rail, trains, shuttles, and other forms of public transportation provide an efficient and economical way in which to move thousands of people from one place (point A) to another (point B) during the course of a day. Public transportation is a good news story because it reduces air pollution, traffic congestion, commute time, all the while increasing mobility.

The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.

Within this Agenda, Goal 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Public transit is a key element, as stated in 11.2 “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons”

Public transit continues to evolve as cities and communities find ways to connect and live sustainably.

All aboard….

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

52 thoughts on “Peter Owusu-Ansah at the Broadway-City Hall Skytrain Station”

    1. Thank you for joining me at Broadway & Cambie Station. This is train takes us out to the Vancouver International Airport, which is a little quieter these days. I have great hopes that one day travel will come back. Meanwhile, I’m traveling virtually – no jet lag!!!!

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    1. You and me both, Shehanne! Colour brings vibrancy to our days and comes in all seasons, from white snow, to yellow daffodils, to blue sky, to autumn reds and golds. Thank you for traveling to my side of the world and joining me at Broadway – City Hall station. We can take this train and be at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 5 minutes. Hugs and more hugs!

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    1. Exactly, Paulette – well said. I had passed this art installation a few times, feeling the energy of colours at different times of the day and in various weather conditions. Art reminds me of a chameleon, able to shift and transition at will. As I walked closer to the artwork, the mesh started to shimmer and move in patterns. Fascinating! I am thrilled that you joined me at Broadway and Cambie!!! Many hugs coming back your way…

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    1. I am so glad that we made it to your side of Canada, Jennifer, before Covid19. I had always dreamed of visiting Newfoundland and was happy that I was able to see a small part of your amazing province. Standing on Signal Hill as the cold wind howled around me was an unforgettable experience. 🤗🤗🤗

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  5. Many thanks, Rebecca, for having taken me to your colourful Broadway & Cambie Station and your visual artist! It seems that in your whole country a lot is being done concerning public transport and this is very encouraging! I have recently also read a very positive article about the procedures in Denmark, which is the most climate friendly country worldwide. Have a good week:) Martina

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    1. I remember traveling through Europe by train. It was the most relaxing way to travel and see the countryside (which we would never have seen if we had travelled on the main roads by car) roll by my window. The train from Paris to Munich is one of my best travel memories. I’m looking forward to when travel comes back, but I’m very happy that we can travel virtually and remember past trips. Travel will come back, but I believe that it will be with a renewed interest in reducing our individual carbon footprint. Have a wonderful week, Martina. Thank you for your visit and comment!!! Hugs!

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  6. The artist’s grid work for the transportation grid…how appropriate. You always find beauty in what can sometimes be a bleak urban landscape. With any big agenda, it’s always important to balance individual freedom, including artistic creation, with top down restrictions. Peter Owusu-Ansah’s words found elsewhere are true for so many endeavors: “I’ve got a single heart, and only I can feel what is inside mine, as only you can feel what is in yours.” Thank you once again for bringing the beauty. 🙂

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    1. I am so grateful for your company at the Broadway and Cambie Skytrain Station. This is called the “Canada Line” skytrain which opened on August 17, 2009, ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The forecast was for 100,000 boardings per day in 2013 and 142,000 boardings per day by 2021. According to the Daily Hive news
      “The Canada Line is projected to see 56.4 million annual boardings by 2030 — up from 48.7 million during 2018’s full set of data, according to TransLink. And more is planned for the Broadway-City Hall Skytrain station. In 2025, the Broadway-City Hall Station will become a major regional transit hub from its transformation into an interchange between the Canada Line and Millennium Line. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canada-line-ridership. Cities transform before our eyes without us noticing. I don’t even remember what was on the spot where the station is now. I think it was a gas station, but I’m not certain.

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      1. Wow, that’s quite a projection. Mass transit is fantastic in cities. I love the irony that perhaps a gas station was once there. 🙂

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    1. Those vibrant pieces do cheer everyone up, especially on rainy Vancouver days, Paul. I was reading recently that the gradual shift in residence of the human population from rural to urban areas will continue to grow – exponentially. I believe that art and literature will play a pivotal role in the health and well-being of a population. Jane Jacobs once wrote that “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Every act of creativity by one person, however small, is essential to all! So glad that you joined me at Broadway & Cambie!

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  9. One of the things I really miss about living in Europe is the public transport. In some cities that I’ve lived in and visited around the world, the metro is one of the highlights of the trip. Even Minsk, Belarus and Pyongyang, North Korea (!) have magnificent metros. I sure hope North America, especially the US, catches up soon.

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    1. I agree wholeheartedly, Julie – North America is playing catch-up on this side of the world. As we move forward in climate action, public transportation will be critical. Canada has vast land area, plus our winter climate has encouraged us to use cars. Living in Northern Alberta and Manitoba, we needed to have special heaters for our car motors or else the cars wouldn’t start on frigid, winter mornings. Waiting 15 minutes for a bus in -30C did not encourage ridership on public transit. But Canada is in transition with Millennials turning away from cars and looking for smaller places to live close to public amenities. I have read that some do not have driver’s licenses. We live in very interesting times.

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  10. Couldn’t agree more with Peter Owusu-Ansah’s, “I believe that seeing is a language in itself, because seeing anything can produce reactions like any language does.” No matter where one happens to be, thus so if you can believe the old adage of, a picture is worth a thousand words!

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    1. How very well said!!! And one word gives me a thousand pictures, Jean-Jacques. Isn’t it interesting that our senses allow us to move between them to create stories from memory and experience. When I see a photo of home-made bread, I smell the aroma and find myself transported to my grandmother’s kitchen. Or when I read your poetry, I find myself looking beyond the horizon to connect with other memories and events. Thank you so much for joining Peter and me at the Station. Very much appreciated!

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  11. Thank you, to Peter Owusu-Ansah, for these beautiful examples of artistic talent and also for his important words These paintings are truly unusual, a great variety of colors and so well chosen, and not one slip of the brush. What a treat as the discussion continues discussing transportation and its importance!| Thank you for sharing these paintings, Rebecca, truly a visual treat.

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    1. We owe a great deal to the people who work in public transportation. Their dedication to safety on the roads, and safety in stations is truly remarkable. Yes – “not one slip of the brush.” I was amazed by the preciseness of the artwork. The mesh was completely covered with paint without any overlapping. Quite remarkable! Thank you for joining me at Broadway-City Hall Station. It is always a busy place! Many hugs1

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  12. Peter’s colourful artwork is so cheerful and heartwarming. It must bring a smile to the faces of those who use the public transport. Such places can often be very austere and drab, so it’s great to see that someone has thought to brighten up the dreariness. Thanks for sharing the beauty of it, Rebecca. 🤗🤗😍

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    1. I agree, Sylvia – transportation stations have an austere utilitarian appearance. It comes with the grey cement and grey in the steel escalator/elevators. I was looking up why the colour grey is so popular in home decoration these past few years. I have read that, as a color, gray makes everything look more modern and fresh. When I saw this art installation against the grey of the cement, I could see that the “colour experts” have a point. But I still love vibrant colours!!! Sending many hugs back your way.

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      1. I also love vibrant colours. When we go for our walk around the neighbourhood, I really notice the house which are painted in drab grey, sometimes with matching grey roves. I much prefer the more cheerful creams and light beiges and I adore red roof tiles too. I’ll let you guess the colours of our house. 😅

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    1. I agree that public transport in rural areas is limited. I have read that there is growing consensus that these areas need to be serviced as well. This need became even clearer when, In 2018, Greyhound Canada terminated all of its routes in Western Canada and now only operates in Ontario and Quebec. So the use of cars is a necessity in small towns and rural areas. I am delighted that you enjoyed this public art!!! Sending hugs!

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    1. I was just speaking with Frances before I read your comment, Liz. We were discussing that in these past months, we have become more aware of how we interact with each other, how we view the world around us. Instead of moving quickly through daily tasks, many of which had to be modified, we had to relearn what we already thought we knew. The thought of visual connection and communication with artistic endeavors is something that I need to consider more closely – to relearn how I see creativity around me.

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  17. “Colours that strike a deeply personal reaction from his own heart” – how wonderful. Even through the filtered medium of your camera and my screen, Peter’s work fizzes with energy. It is fabulous that his artistry can be shared by everyone using and walking past the station – such a brilliant and unexpected way to connect, to add to all those travel connections! X

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    1. Oh Liz, you have a marvelous way with colour in everything you do, from your artwork to your crafts. I look forward to how your colours unfold – it is as if all the colours are in a mood of celebration. When you introduce a new colour, the others welcome it to the “party” with great joy. Remember that quote by Pablo Picasso? “Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? no. Just as one can never learn how to paint.” Spring is knocking on the door and I’m looking forward to the crocuses and daffodils. The earth is waking up! Sending hugs and love across the pond.

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    1. I am so very glad you joined me at the station, Teagan. As I watch people walking by the art installation, I thought about each of their stories. Everyone is writing a story, even though it may not be in words. Sending many hugs back your way on the wing.

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  20. Wonderful video/post, Rebecca! The more art that graces our streets, the better off we will be.

    It was long ago, so this station did not exist when I lived in Vancouver.
    I do remember the Cambie Bridge. It was dark and scary and I loved walking across it. Is it still there, or has it been replaced?
    Vancouver had the best bridges. I’m sure it still does. {{hugs}}

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    1. I see the Cambie Bridge from my windows. There have been many changes in Vancouver over the years especially since the 2010 Winter Olympics. I have read that there will be a great many more upgrades in the coming years in the area around Cambie Bridge that will respond to the need for affordable housing. I agree – the more art that graces our streets, the better off we will be. A few years ago when I visited my father in hospital, they had just launched an initiative to bring art into the hospital as a way of bringing healing to those who were in hospital as well as those who visited. It was brilliant idea!! Sending many hugs back your way!!

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    1. What I love most about public art, Diana, is that it brings art to people where they work, play, walk. Colour in the midst of concrete is a message that art cannot be contained. Creativity will prevail. And that gives me great comfort!

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