Poet's Promenade (2016)

Jeanette G. Lee

5460 - 5560 Moncton Street

Area: Steveston
Location: Artwork is embedded in the concrete of the sidewalk.

Materials: Stainless steel, concrete

Program: Private
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: Am-Pri Developments (2013) Ltd.
Also Known As: Poet's Promenade

Description of Work

Stone-like inspired open roundish forms of various sizes from 24” rounds, to 4”x 5” smaller works imprinted onto the concrete in a syncopated rhythm a little reminiscent of a “wandering” stroll. These forms travel along the 800 ft frontage of the development. Within some of these forms are stainless steel written texts from 8 BASHO haikus that are themed around the seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter.

Stainless steel was chosen as the embedded material because of its beauty and longevity. It requires little or no maintenance as next to the metal gold, it is the least corrosive metal to the elements . The stainless steel, with its’ natural colour properties can be surfaced with an abraded finish giving it a non-slippery texture for the safety of pedestrian traffic. The embedded pieces are relatively thin, almost like drawing open forms into the surface with steel: these hold treasury of a poem.

The stone- like forms are connected by “root” like drawings of steel. These “root” like connectors are inspired by the root patterns of the Japanese iris and the Japanese crab apple tree and symbolically paying homage to the strong Japanese “roots “ to this area. It is a thing of beauty and like the imprinting and steel, deeply embedded in this area of Richmond

Artist Statement

: The word “promenade “ in the Cambridge English dictionary defines itself as “ to walk islowly along a road or path for pleasure”. The word “promenade” in the Japanese context originally, always featured a pathway for strolling designed to complement the home and allow communal time with nature. The Poets’ promenade Artwork is inspired by combinational ideas of both the western and the heritage Japanese promenades.

Along the walkway on Moncton Ave, imprinted into the sidewalk, are stepping stone/root–like open forms. These forms are created by imprinting hand made steel stamps into the pavement surface. They give the impression of a purposeful stone trail through a lovely garden, with their varying sizes and shapes bounded together with “root” like arms. Along this pathway, there pauses with the embedded stainless steel text of one of the greatest haiku poets Matsuo Basho. Basho's haikus are translated by Keiko Parker. The poems are selected from the spring, summer, autumn and winter of Bashos’ journeys and the “four seasons” of thought bring the traveler on this trail symbolically through the many “seasons” of life.

There are 8 haikus selected with their stainless steel poems offset from the centre of the walking path and highlighted from the imprinted “stone patterns” ,almost like wistful, ephemeral, contemplative thoughts as one moves along the sidewalk.