The $30,000 Soapbox public art sculpture that caused much controversy earlier this year is down a piece after one of the crates was sent in for repairs.
The Soapbox sculpture is comprised of three aluminum crates, powder-coated and painted. They represent the old saying of 'get up on your soapbox', where people would stand on a box and give their thoughts on a variety of topics in a town centre.
There are currently two crates in front of Barrie City Hall, near the Circle at the Centre, with one being taken away May 8 and placed in storage due to damage.
Amanda Dyke, the city’s culture officer of economic and creative development, said one of the pieces was removed "for some minor repair work" after damage to the bolt that fastens into the cement footing was discovered, along with "some minor paint chips."
It's still unknown how much the repairs are going to cost.
“We are awaiting a quote and timeline from the fabricator/installer at this time and would like to have the piece re-installed as soon as possible, pending weather conditions,” Dyke told BarrieToday in an email response sent through the city's communications department.
Maintenance of Barrie's public art pieces falls under the city's public art policy and associated budget, she added.
The Soapbox was installed in the fall of 2019 following the city hall courtyard's repaving. It was chosen over other art pieces, as Dyke said in a staff report at the time, "for its durability, ease of maintenance and because it represents the fundamental Canadian right to freedom of speech.”
The piece caused quite a stir in the community when it was installed.
At a Feb. 10 council meeting, Deputy Mayor Barry Ward said the controversial piece was doing exactly what it's meant to do.
"One of the purposes of public art is to create a discussion and get people talking, so this may be the most successful piece of public art we've ever had in the City of Barrie," Ward said. "It's very clear that everybody is not going to like every piece of art."
In 2015, council approved $25,000 for the public art committee to create the permanent placement of public art.
At a Feb. 3 general committee meeting, councillors gave initial approval to purchasing The Soapbox, which is being leased at $5,000 per year. At that time, the city had paid $15,000, with the next payment due in October 2020, on a lease-to-own agreement, with the money coming from the city's public art committee.
The city has been leasing Soapbox since the fall of 2017. It was created by the Minden-based artistic team of Chris Hanson and Hendrika Sonnenberg.
The artists' work can also be found on the Halifax Pier and in Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, N.Y.
