New public art coming to Gatineau intersection

A busy intersection in Gatineau will soon offer drivers a little something extra to look at as they make their way through the region's Hull sector.

The National Capital Commission announced Wednesday that it will install a new piece of public art at the corner of Maisonneuve and des Allumettières boulevards over the summer.

Hal Ingberg, the Montreal artist who is creating the art, said his vision for the piece includes a number of large, transparent walls made out of coloured glass.

"I'm interested in creating a kind of icon for the city — something that would act as a symbolic entry to the city," said Ingberg, who won a cross-Canada competition to create the piece of public art in Gatineau.

His work includes the colourful expansion of the Palais des Congrès de Montréal and various installations, including Beacon for the 2004 Biennale de Montréal.

Papa, the large-scale art he's creating for the city of Gatineau, includes a sitting space where people walking by can pause to watch the light change as it moves through the enclosure's coloured glass walls.

The NCC said this is the first piece of public art it has commissioned in 20 years other than commemorative works.