The Pipe Man will stay for at least another year while the Town conducts a survey to generate input from the public. That was the message from council at its January 23, 2017 meeting.
In November, council directed staff to bring back a report with suggestions for alternate locations for the art installation, but according to Teri Souter, Manager of Arts and Culture for the Town of Huntsville, the request is not an easy one.
“The statue itself was designed specifically for the location that it’s in. It does not readily suit any other location because of the fact that it was site specifically designed,” she said, adding that the design of the art installation and its ballast took into consideration things like water depths and flows as well as spring freshet and the speed of boats travelling around it. In terms of finding an alternate location, she said, “Nothing came to mind so that has not been an easy part of this direction given by council. Part of the reason why we’d like some more time is to see if perhaps the public has some ideas about that, that they could share or that we could find out and move forward that way.”
Souter suggested in her report that staff survey the public and bring back the results to council in September 2017. Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano asked what the public would be surveyed on if the art installation is so specifically designed. Souter said the survey would be designed with input from senior staff at Town Hall and would include questions about whether people like it where it is and, if not, suggestions for alternate locations. She said the compiled results would then be brought back to council for consideration in September. Councillor Bob Stone tried to have it brought back in May instead. He commended Jan Nyquist, who donated the installation, for offering to cover the bulk of the costs to relocate it if that’s the wish of council and the public, but said waiting until September to make a decision is much too long.
“Having a report come back in May, if the choice is to move it, then we would still have the summer months to do so rather than waiting another full year,” said Stone. Council voted on the motion brought forth by Stone, but it was defeated with only Councillor Terziano supporting it.
The sentiment around the council table was that the installation should be seen in all seasons, which would also give summer residents an opportunity to provide input. Councillor Det Schumacher also suggested that it might grow on people.
“I think people need to get used to something… all of a sudden it’s not a big deal anymore so let’s leave it there until September,” he said.
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison reiterated the message he gave at the installation’s unveiling. “Art is something that’s supposed to speak to your soul and sometimes it stirs your soul and so if you’re going to judge this installation on what it has ignited in terms of people’s reaction and their engagement in what’s happening in our community, then I think it’s been a success beyond our wildest imagination,” he said.
Councillor Brian Thompson was not at the meeting. You can view Souter’s full report by turning to page 271 here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here.
I love the Pipe man and all it stands for!
I commend Huntsville for celebrating Tom Thomson.
Congratulations.
I think that it would be appropriate to move it to the spot where Tom Thompson body was found in Algonquin Park.
From my house I can see it all day and night. I think it’s an hazard, especially the color at night.
Our guests ask “what is that thing in the river”. Nobody is impressed.
I watched it being installed and think it should be dragged over beside River Mill Park, or into the park so people can walk around it, preferably before the Summer boating season.
It is just the location of the pc of art work that doesn’t work. It shouldn’t be in the middle of Muskoka River. I believe that is why most people are upset. Location, Location!! It needs to be removed.
Although Pipe Man was placed in the river with good intentions, I must admit that I am having difficulty appreciating it. I see no beauty and the emotion it engenders is one of sadness and disappointment. We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Let’s not interfere with nature’s own ‘natural’ art. Thank you council for reconsidering the removal of Pipe Man.
I personally like it and I think it should stay. I have heard both good and bad comments on the wall murals that adorn several of our downtown buildings; I have had friends comment on my own art work. Art in its various shapes is a form of freedom of expression and while some may take offence to it, and that is their right, it is still nonetheless worthy of being displayed. I have also been asked by tourists what it was and when I explained I did not receive a negative comment but instead kudos to our town for having an unusual piece of art. Huntsville is a unique town and that is one of the things that make it special.
Cathy Smith
In 1928, Rene Magritte painted ‘The Treachery of Images’, a painting of a pipe that declared, ‘Ceci n’est ce pas une pipe’ (“This is not a pipe”), reminding the viewer that they were in fact looking at only paint and canvas. One of the challenges of a work of art is to take a material, be it paint, clay, or a piece of plastic pipe, and give it a presence greater than the sum of its parts.
The donor and the artist of ‘Pipe Man’ should be thanked and congratulated for their efforts. It is a technical achievement that has sparked great discussion on the nature of art in our beautiful town. Some would argue the piece transcends its materials best at night, when lit up.
Installation art, where a site-specific piece occupies a location for a finite period of time, provides interest, discussion, and controversy for its duration. If one considers “Pipe Man” as a piece of installation art, it must be agreed that it is already a successful work of art. The question then becomes whether this piece should be a permanent installation, relocated, or if it has run its course.
In the way that Tom Thomson’s body of work captured his fleeting impression of the ever-changing quality of light and the constant growth and decay of nature, ‘Pipe Man’ is intended to capture the fleeting beauty of Thomson’s short life and work. However, the everlasting nature of the material that ‘Pipe Man’ is constructed from feels at odds with its subject matter.
Though Pipefusion’s quality pipes will last a lifetime, might we suggest a full calendar year is sufficient for this installation to tell its story?
For us, this pipe is still a pipe.
Allowing this issue to be dragged through until September in nothing short of a ploy to squash the opinions of the locals who have to look at that pipe in the river 12/7, and have already stated “they don’t want it.”
Council mis-judged public opinion by allowing it to be put in the river in the first place, and that same Council should step up to the plate and order it removed. Not after our tourists from Southern Ontario converge on Huntsville, do it before. It’s a local issue and should be settled by our local policy makers before the tourists arrive.
Too bad they didn’t ask the residents of the town.
Not my cup of tea, please remove and find a less conspicuous location
I think it should be moved to Algonquin Park in the same place as Tom was found.
GREAT UNIQUE PIECE OF ART… !!!!! …… THANX JAN AND BEV…… AND ALL OTHERS INVOLVED BUT ……. I WANT TO SEE IT CLOSER…. WALK AROUND IT …. MAYBE TOUCH, FEEL AND SEE IT LITE UP MY NITE SKY ABOVE ME…. SUGGESTIONS …..MAYBE… BESIDE ROTARY STAGE, BY THE WATER IN RIVERMILL PARK, IN A SMALL SPLASH POND BY THE RIVER’S EDGE… FOR YOUNG AND OLD TO WALK AROUND TOM IN THE WATER….. HOW ABOUT AT ONE END OF THE OLE SWING BRIDGE ….. ASZZ A BEACON … !?!?!?….. MAYBE IN THE NEW …. TOM THOMSON SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE TOWN HALL ….. !?!?!?!?…..TO LITE UP HIS STATUE AND CANOE…. ?????……. OR UP ON THE THEATRE BALCONY….. IF WE WANT TO PREVENT VANDALISM…..JUST SUM THOTS AND IDEAS……BY THE RIVERMILL PARK ARCHWAY ENTRANCE….., A BEACON ON TOP OF THE OLD SWING BRIDGE, ON MRS BLACKBURN’S …. SWING BRIDGE GARDEN SQUARE… ?????….. WHO OWNS THAT OLD PART OF THE SPRING BRIDGE …..???? ….. UP ON THE TOWN HALL STEPS …. WE CAN SEE IT ALL DAY AND NITE ON MAIN STREET……ANY OTHER IDEAS OR COMMENTS … ????? …. JUST THINKING AND WUNDERING … !!!! ….. WHERE CAN WE ALLLLL SEE IT AND ENJOY IT. …???? ……
I think it’s great. I live in Huntsville, I drive past it every day. Communities become unique in this very way. It’s something to talk about, debate, and look at. The view from the bridge is commercialized, full of development and is a far cry from a serene, natural setting.
If we’re debating how the Pipe Man looks in it’s place, shouldn’t we be debating the gigantic Boston Pizza which sits across from it?
I totally support the Pipe Man and it’s location.
I agree…it’s just a fancy sham of advertising. ..put Tom Thomson on it and it’s supposed to make it ok
It’s a bad miss. Forget boat safety, it is a visual distraction for drivers on Main Street and the Swing Bridge. The first few times I drove that section of Main Street after it went up I did a double take wondering what piece of construction waste has lodged itself in the middle of the river? After I learned what it was, it still distracted me as I would try and grasp the ‘sculpture’ cut into the pipe.
Calling it art does not elevate it above criticism and reevaluation. Calling it art is the beginning of the conversation, not the end. I hope Council and those involved do not let ego drive what is the obvious and right decision. Take it down.
Based on all the previous comments, save Kareen and Craig, there seems to be a consensus already: Tom needs to be moved. There’s no need to know a future location for that event to take place. It needs to move before summer for safety reasons. Survey or not, the people who care have spoken.
Not everything will grow on you given time. For me, it`s raw oysters!! I`m on the side of let`s find a new place for it!!!!
I agree with Kareen, and I would also reiterate what has been mentioned before, which is that many art installations around the world were initially despised by locals only to become famous landmarks later on. I am glad council is leaving it for one year so people have a chance to get used to it. I didn’t like it much at first, but it is growing on me already. I do have to admit though, I don’t like the fact that there is a company logo on it.
Thoughts
1. Art is in the eye of the beholder
2. Project already approved by council
3. What was the cost to the town
4. I like
With all due respect to the hard work for everyone involved in the art piece…you meant well, but it just doesn’t make anyone feel good to look at it. Tourists come here to get away to the outdoors and the beauty we all enjoy. You want our town to make tourists feel good and… It just doesn’t do that.
Actually when it first went up I thought it was something that floated up from the bottom. Still can’t tell what it is might look better elsewhere where people can see it up close but it needs to go. Council let Doppler do your survey and save tax dollars remove it this spring.
Hi Jim, thanks for your comment. There was no “put down” intended on my part. I was merely answering his question based on staff’s report to council.
Art is art… and its appreciation is always in the eye of the beholder.
In my opinion it would be much better on dry land where is can be seen up close or at a distance.
Tom Thomson was associated with Algonquin Provincial Park so maybe the west gate would be a good place to re-locate it.
Why does council need a year to deal with this issue? The majority of comments that have been in print are in favor of relocating this piece to an alternative location. We need to see this done prior to the start of the tourist season. I would agree with the suggestion of relocating it to Pipefusions property. It is an eyesore in the river, not conducive to its surroundings in anyway. No disrespect to the artist intended!
I have a complaint regarding this whole process regarding the Pipe Man. Last night a guy named Russ happened to question how this floating art was able to be placed where it is, “did they get approval?” he asked. This line of comment is to find out if people liked it. Obviously The fellow did not like it. It therefore was not up to Tamara to answer a trivial question as a sort of put down on a man who did not take the time to wade through the paperwork or the previous comments for the answer. Remove the darned thing and be done with it! A simple YES or NO to the question “Should it Be removed?” would be much kinder to the people who put this art together in good faith. It’s getting a wee bit embarrassing.
Wow. We are going to spend money on a survey that is well documented in all these replies. We could probably spend some of that cash and TIME on social services, roads etc.
I do hope that the town fathers will make a decision prior to the tourist season and we will not spend all our time trying to defend this installation good luck
Sorry to all artists but when I first saw this thing as I drove over the bridge my firs thought was along the lines of “gosh I did not know that we failed to remove all of an old metal bridge”. It looks like one beam was forgotten when an old railway bridge was removed!
I’ll agree art is art and maybe I’m not seeing all the hard work that went into this thing but I don’t really like it where it is.
It’s an embarrassing eyesore that doesn’t fit in in with the ambience of the Muskoka River and our town dock, it’s too modern. Put it in Rivermill Park somewhere but, get it out of the water.
The Art is The Water and The Water is The Art !
Perhaps the well-meaning donor of ‘Pipeman’ would consider installing it on his property, at the entrance to his company. It can then have a ‘place of pride’, where those who commissioned it, & visitors can proudly see it daily.
I am an ‘art’ lover, but personally do not like this piece.
Please remove it from that beautiful, but busy, stretch of our Muskoka River for safety/liability reasons before summer & to avoid the embarrassing questions from tourists. We are not proud- of the pipe, location or discourse it is causing in this otherwise attractive town.
I think this should go. It should have never been put there in the first place.
Where does Bev (Hawksley, the artist) desire the piece to be? Tom always thought his favourite place to be was in Algonquin ( see TTLastspring on Twitter for quotations).
I’m not sure that having art moored in the middle of a waterway of any kind is appropriate. It would be a bit like having a statue erected in the middle of Main Street. If it was on a dock or other structure along the river, or on land it would be more appropriate.
As for the object itself, I don’t like the colour (all black) and I’ve never been able to make out what is on it very clearly (although I haven’t taken the time to walk out on the dock for a closer look yet). Perhaps this summer when I can get on the water to get closer I’ll be able to see more of it.
Perhaps it may grow on me.
But it just doesn’t seem to fit with the surroundings. It looks unnatural. It looks un-Muskokan.
It may be art and I’m sure there are people in town who appreciate it. Art is in the eye of the beholder and I for one don’t appreciate it or its location. Having said that, I know others do appreciate this art. Its details (Tom Thomson and other markings) are lost to most while in its present position. I think one must get “up close and personal” to see the details. Therefore, Rivermill park or the parkette by the take-away pizza place below the bridge would seem to me to be a perfect place. Just because it was engineered to stand in water doesn’t mean it can’t stand on land! It certainly takes away from the natural ambiance of the area and, I believe, would be much more appreciated on land.
I agree, great idea.
Yes !
I have just finished reading the report to Council and end up with a couple of questions for further clarification. Firstly, has not Town Council approved this already? I know that they (Council) are not without authority to change even reverse previous decisions, so I ask why is Council now asking for public input – didn’t that happen before?
My second question concerns the report of January 24 – I, like Virgina Hastings, know the artist and love her work, and I know Jan and this company and their professionalism; what I question is the need for the article about social media skewing things. To me this article is an affront to those of us who use this media. I agree with the writer of the article, but question its place/need in a report to Council?
I think that’s an excellent idea Virginia. Watch for it. 🙂
Art is in the eye of the beholder. But the beautiful waterway and surrounding area is beautiful in itself! I am definitely not in favour of this eye sore. Such a beautiful waterway now has been spoiled.
I have yet to say anything publicly on this matter because I am friends with all three people involved in the creation of this piece, I respect James, Beverley and Jan and consider them each experts in their respective fields of work/creativity – but I’m with everyone else on all levels of “it needs to go…”
Perhaps could Doppler create a survey monkey that we can all fill in and you could then not only create a news piece based of of your findings but also present this to the town?
Thank you,
Virginia
The issue I have with the art installation is the part. Tom’s hair parts the wrong way. The statue in front of the Huntsville theatre has Tom’s hair part from left to right, the pipeman’s hair parts right to left. If you find the photo used as inspiration it shows a left to right part of the hair. Was this because of the photography technology at the time and it is a mirror image.
Which way did Tom’s hair part?
The mystery of Tom Thomson delves deeper.
Russ, in answer to your question and as per the report submitted to council, Town staff consulted and got approval for the installation’s location from the the Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario) and the Department of Transportation, Navigable Waters (Canada).
So much talk about ‘the location’… I mean, does this thing have to have a location?
On January 24th entry of Doppler Huntsville, I read that the Town of Huntsville Council wants to know what the people of Huntsville think about this hazard piece of pipe erected in the centre of the Muskoka River in front of Boston Pizza and the Swing Bridge. It appears that the Town is proposing a survey of the town and tourists of the summer months a get a large consensus.
I personally feel that the Town Council should assume some responsibility, and never have allowed it to have been erected there in the first place. This pipe presents a liability hazard that could set the Town up for a heavy lawsuit should any of our many tourists hit it or worse yet cause major injury or death!
This is why we have a Town Council to protect the communities interests. Did the Ministry of Natural Resources approve the installation?
Why would council wait until September before they make a decision to prevent that accident before it happens?
Let’s get it removed before the boat traffic starts!
Russ Nicholls
How is it on the residents of the area to brainstorm a solution for a new location? (Not that they have not readily suggested a number already)
Were it not for the Town’s hastiness in placing it without consult, we wouldn’t be in the position of wasting taxpayer dollars on A) a survey, and B) administration to review the survey results which reaffirm what the people seem to be agreeing on: it does not suit and it needs to go.
I was surprised to discover it was considered art. I do not like it. Perhaps if it was moved to another location that would provide a back drop for it. Where it is…an eye sore.
Bottom line, It’s a advertisement. And looks out of place on our lovely river.
How many different ways can we say we hate it. Eye sore obstructs the view and dangerous. Really do you think Tom Thomson would like this unnatural object protruding from the water.
I very seldom walk through Town near the bridge, but recently I did walk past a group of 4 tourists near the rail between the bridge and the Pizza joint. One lady sort of pointed at me to come closer, and asked “are you a local?’ I said I was and was then asked, “What is that ‘thing’ in the middle of the river?” Then they said “what are those white marks”? I said, (Because I wasn’t wearing my glasses and it was getting dark), “If it looks like a man’s figure, it’s Tom Thomson with a pipe in his mouth, and if it’s a series of small horizontal ripples it is to mark how many years a local company has been in business.”
Needless to say they looked at me as if I was a nut. As I walked away, I felt like one too.
I vote against it.
I am an art lovers of all types but the location is just all wrong. When you have many visitors up to Huntsville and take them down town and they laugh and say that takes away from the view. It doesn’t fit in.
Why not River Mill park where other art work is displayed or next to the pizza nova.
Art is always in the eye of the beholder. We can’t all like the same thing. Everybody can voice an opinion on the piece, but should they get to decide if it is displayed or not? I think we would have no artwork out in the public sector at all if every piece was put to a vote. The people who do not mind this piece are less likely to comment, in my opinion, and the reason I am commenting here. I think it should stay.
One should read Ms Souter’s report to get the facts correct. It was the Federal Department of Transport under their Navigation Protection Program who approved the location. It is not considered to be hazard as it is a well lit piece of art in a dead slow no wake zone with plenty of space around it for safe passage.
I believe that anyone driving their boat in excess of that should be charged. Council will be paying attention to all constituents by conducting a survey.
Check the report for all the details.
Tell us this, if it were an art piece to your liking, would you be up in arms with the location?
I can remember my father coming home from work upset that he drove through a red light. He was angry saying “it wasn’t there this morning ” That was at Hwy 60 and 11B North. Things change!
I absolutely think it’s awful. I don’t think it’s art at all, but that’s my opinion . Most people when they see it first ask why there is a beam sticking out of the river. I think it’s a hazard to boating and I think someone should get a hold of the government agency that controls water rights of way. What happens when someone hits it and gets hurt? Will the council take responsibility for it? With the number of people who don’t think it should be there I don’t see the townspeople being willing to pay for damages to some poor boater. And by the way, I don’t think leaving it there over the summer is going to change residents’ opinion, and seems to me the council should be listening to the constituents, after all we are the ones who voted for them.