118 replies to this topic

[AllseeingEye]

Healing symbol from Fort Royal Medical Building won't be reused: developer

https://www.timescol...oper-1.24280001

 

But site developer Donald Milliken, of Milliken Real Estate Corp. in Vancouver, said the piece is made of “flimsy” thin metal, possibility some kind of tin, that made it difficult to remove and retain.

 

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“We couldn’t think of what could be done with it from a practical point of view, so it became part of the demolition of the building, which is ongoing.”

 

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As for offering it to the public, he said: “It’s flimsy. It’s huge. Who is going to be able to do anything with it? We came up blank.”

 

 

 

 

 

"flimsy material" that lasted fine for 60 years.  i think donald perhaps lacks imagination and big thinking capability.

 

It really is too bad; back in the Dark Ages when mom graduated in the mid-50's from nursing school all nursing grads received a Rod of Asclepius lapel pin which she proudly wore and kept over her entire 40 year career at the Jubilee Hospital.

 

Although the metal no doubt suffered from 'weather-fatigue' after six decades I'm sure if they'd really wanted to it could have been saved somehow, in part if not in whole. If that Turner building development ever happens, which was supposed to include a coffee shop/cafe I believe, I think incorporating the old metal symbol somehow there - even if it was only the head of the snake and a few feet of the body - would've been very apropos.

[Victoria Watcher]

it’s 30x older than the museum’s latest carved artifact.

[Nparker]

And 50 times more authentic.

[Rob Randall]

Funny how it's possible to remove the most delicate ancient mosaics or fresco paintings from a wall but a durable metal sculpture is impossible to cut down. 

 

Even funnier that that newish View/Yates condo spent a lot of money installing an artwork of a similar size near the roofline.

 

Maybe no medical building that currently exists or is planned would have been interested in acquiring it but it would have been worth the effort. Remember the excitement over the auction of the old Empress Hotel letters?

[Brantastic]

I'm indifferent to this particular piece of art, but could they have tried the massive, multi-building hospital across the street?

[Rob Randall]

I don't want to get all aastra here, but it is interesting how the Jubilee preserves various hospital artifacts, including the old brick operating room so it's clear that some old stuff is priceless heritage and some is worthless scrap and its pretty arbitrary which is which.

[Victoria Watcher]

i'm sure if that had put it on e-bay and then got some media it would have been bought by somebody for good dollars.  they just lacked imagination.

[Rob Randall]

^Someone bought that giant dilapidated gnome.

[Mike K.]

The gnome was given away for free, I think?

[Rob Randall]

Nothing's free, gnome I'm saying homie?

[Mike K.]

I believe the correct parlance is, gnome sayin.'

[todd]

It's a priceless piece of satanic panic history. and nostalgic satanic panic is just trending again

[Brantastic]

I have good childhood memories of that gnome from when I lived up island. I'm happy it's followed me here to Victoria.

[Nparker]

There's no place like gnome.

[Rob Randall]

Pam Madoff:

 

I was a member of Victoria city council when this project was first proposed. I pointed out the significance of the sculpture to the developer, both as a piece of art and as a neighbourhood landmark.

I was assured at the time that if it was not possible to retain the piece in the new development that an appropriate home would be found for it.

In an interview in the Times Colonist following the destruction of the piece, developer Donald Milliken of Milliken Real Estate stated that the piece was made of “flimsy” thin metal, possibly tin, that made it difficult to remove and retain.

In fact, the piece was crafted of stainless steel and believed to have been created by Ironcraft Art Metal and had been previously removed, and reinstated, when the building was reclad.

 

It would be refreshing to see developers begin to “give a damn” about Victoria’s architectural heritage instead of regarding it as a nuisance.

Jon Blair

 

 

https://www.timescol...6L5daDmB1VQ2yss

 

Boo to the developers. 

[todd]

I think it was pretty ugly.

[Rob Randall]

Ugly? I think it's hilarious Millikin said it was made of tin. Nothing's actually made of tin, it's only use is alloyed with other metals. But tin is a synonym for cheap or untrustworth (tin-pot dictator) so it's a handy word if your goal is to obfuscate. He knew it was made of stainless steel and was in fine shape, they just didn't give a rat's ass and went back on their promise.

[todd]

Ugly?

just one opinion. i suppose satanists might like it?

[Rob Randall]

I don't know about satanists. I just like snakes and sticks.

[todd]

I don't know about satanists. I just like snakes and sticks.

Why?