Keep Trans Am Rapture at Granville and 4th
Keep Trans Am Rapture at Granville and 4th
The Issue
To our community,
We have started this petition to stop the cancellation of "Trans Am Rapture" in the new site of Granville Loop Park at Granville between 4th and 5th.
"Trans Am Rapture" (formerly "Trans Am Totem") was accepted into the Vancouver Public Art Collection in 2019. In 2021 it was removed from its original Quebec Street site for repairs. The public was told the sculpture would be reinstalled within the following two years at another agreed upon site, after repairs were complete.
Four years have passed. The few mutually agreeable sites that the Cultural Services Department had offered were later revoked by Public Art officials at the City. This process of offering and revoking sites has gone on for four years.
The Centennial Park site was finally agreed upon by the City and the artists. The City made a concrete foundation for the sculpture and installation was to have started in early August.
But, NIMBY complaints have cancelled the installation. NIMBY’s have complained the sculpture is “edgy”, that it is too large, that it "will block views and will get infested with birds."
The sculpture will not block any views, it is on a downward North facing slope, close to the busy traffic on 4th Avenue and beside an 8 lane Highway 99 Granville Bridge. The site is an excellent context for the sculpture, and many in the community want it there. Furthermore, the sculpture is less than half the size of the many surrounding trees in the park.
Marcus and Helene were outraged when the sculpture was allowed to become compromised by a bird infestation between 2019 - 2021, and expressed grave concern about its impact on the community. They begged City officials at the time to restore and bird-proof the sculpture, but their pleas were ignored. Now, as a result of immense pressure, the City has refurbished the sculpture, including bird proofing measures. The public can rest assured that the sculpture has been extensively retrofitted with metal mesh and components to prevent any further issues.
Marcus and Helene believe that this “sculpture provokes consideration of fossil fuel consumption’s impact on our environment as well as the “clear cut mentality” towards our nature and our city’s cultural infrastructures.” These considerations are being lost in relation to a resolved bird issue.
In revoking the site City officials have said the sculpture is better suited to the “East Side” rather than the “West Side” of Vancouver. We disagree with this rationale for reversal. We see this piece as relevant to and beloved by residents in all parts of the city and that the current central location reflects this.
Please sign and show support and solidarity with artists Marcus Bowcott and Helene Aspinall for the installation of this popular sculpture at Granville Loop Park.
In addition to signing this petition, it would be helpful to send an email protesting the cancellation of this sculpture in this location to:
Mayor Ken Sim: ken.sim@vancouver.ca
Rebecca Bligh: CLRbligh@vancouver.ca
Lisa Dominato: CLRdominato@vancouver.ca
Pete Fry: CLRfry@vancouver.ca
Sarah Kirby-Yung: CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca
Mike Klassen: CLRklassen@vancouver.ca
Lucy Maloney: CLRmaloney@vancouver.ca
Peter Meiszner: CLRmeiszner@vancouver.ca
Brian Montague: CLRmontague@vancouver.ca
Sean Orr: CLRorr@vancouver.ca
Lenny Zhou: CLRzhou@vancouver.ca
________________
Marcus Bowcott’s: paintings and sculptures often focus on human activity in relation to the natural environment. He sometimes uses irony and humour to remind viewers of our culture’s conflicted relationship to nature and technology.
Helene Aspinall: has had a drawing practice for over thirty years. She has partnered with her husband Marcus Bowcott on public art sculptures Trans Am Rapture and Endlessly Rocking in Vancouver, as well as An Apparatus for Divining Capital in Munich Germany. Her personal work has centered around relationships, she is particularly interested in exploring the mother/child bond and the role of touch.
Website: https://www.marcusbowcott.com/
Instagram: @marcusbowcott
Media: https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-trans-am-rapture-sculpture-goes-from-iconic-to-controversial
Photo by: Janet McDonald. All rights reserved.
1,276
The Issue
To our community,
We have started this petition to stop the cancellation of "Trans Am Rapture" in the new site of Granville Loop Park at Granville between 4th and 5th.
"Trans Am Rapture" (formerly "Trans Am Totem") was accepted into the Vancouver Public Art Collection in 2019. In 2021 it was removed from its original Quebec Street site for repairs. The public was told the sculpture would be reinstalled within the following two years at another agreed upon site, after repairs were complete.
Four years have passed. The few mutually agreeable sites that the Cultural Services Department had offered were later revoked by Public Art officials at the City. This process of offering and revoking sites has gone on for four years.
The Centennial Park site was finally agreed upon by the City and the artists. The City made a concrete foundation for the sculpture and installation was to have started in early August.
But, NIMBY complaints have cancelled the installation. NIMBY’s have complained the sculpture is “edgy”, that it is too large, that it "will block views and will get infested with birds."
The sculpture will not block any views, it is on a downward North facing slope, close to the busy traffic on 4th Avenue and beside an 8 lane Highway 99 Granville Bridge. The site is an excellent context for the sculpture, and many in the community want it there. Furthermore, the sculpture is less than half the size of the many surrounding trees in the park.
Marcus and Helene were outraged when the sculpture was allowed to become compromised by a bird infestation between 2019 - 2021, and expressed grave concern about its impact on the community. They begged City officials at the time to restore and bird-proof the sculpture, but their pleas were ignored. Now, as a result of immense pressure, the City has refurbished the sculpture, including bird proofing measures. The public can rest assured that the sculpture has been extensively retrofitted with metal mesh and components to prevent any further issues.
Marcus and Helene believe that this “sculpture provokes consideration of fossil fuel consumption’s impact on our environment as well as the “clear cut mentality” towards our nature and our city’s cultural infrastructures.” These considerations are being lost in relation to a resolved bird issue.
In revoking the site City officials have said the sculpture is better suited to the “East Side” rather than the “West Side” of Vancouver. We disagree with this rationale for reversal. We see this piece as relevant to and beloved by residents in all parts of the city and that the current central location reflects this.
Please sign and show support and solidarity with artists Marcus Bowcott and Helene Aspinall for the installation of this popular sculpture at Granville Loop Park.
In addition to signing this petition, it would be helpful to send an email protesting the cancellation of this sculpture in this location to:
Mayor Ken Sim: ken.sim@vancouver.ca
Rebecca Bligh: CLRbligh@vancouver.ca
Lisa Dominato: CLRdominato@vancouver.ca
Pete Fry: CLRfry@vancouver.ca
Sarah Kirby-Yung: CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca
Mike Klassen: CLRklassen@vancouver.ca
Lucy Maloney: CLRmaloney@vancouver.ca
Peter Meiszner: CLRmeiszner@vancouver.ca
Brian Montague: CLRmontague@vancouver.ca
Sean Orr: CLRorr@vancouver.ca
Lenny Zhou: CLRzhou@vancouver.ca
________________
Marcus Bowcott’s: paintings and sculptures often focus on human activity in relation to the natural environment. He sometimes uses irony and humour to remind viewers of our culture’s conflicted relationship to nature and technology.
Helene Aspinall: has had a drawing practice for over thirty years. She has partnered with her husband Marcus Bowcott on public art sculptures Trans Am Rapture and Endlessly Rocking in Vancouver, as well as An Apparatus for Divining Capital in Munich Germany. Her personal work has centered around relationships, she is particularly interested in exploring the mother/child bond and the role of touch.
Website: https://www.marcusbowcott.com/
Instagram: @marcusbowcott
Media: https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-trans-am-rapture-sculpture-goes-from-iconic-to-controversial
Photo by: Janet McDonald. All rights reserved.
1,276
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on August 2, 2025