October 1, 2023 | Posted In Uncategorized
Project of Distinction – Public Art
Creating a Sense of Place through public art and branding in transit shelters
Bus shelters are part of the fabric of communities across the nation. They are highly visible structures found from large urban downtowns to small-town main streets. Bus shelters can be seen in affluent communities, cultural centers, and diverse residential neighborhoods.
While bus shelters serve a vital purpose in supporting bus-riding passengers with safety, comfort, and information, and are the critical entry point for passengers starting their journeys on public transit, bus shelters serve another important role in creating a true Sense of PlaceTM while reflecting the character of the community in which they reside. For many cities and towns, that character is best reflected in art.
“I knew going into this art project that the scale of the reproductions would have a great impact on our community in unexpected places,” commented Amanda McClure, Quinlan Visual Arts Center Executive Director, Gainesville, GA. “What I was not prepared for was how luminous the work turned out to be using the glass medium produced by Tolar. The way the light reacts to these pieces really makes them shine. In short, the bus shelters are stunning, and now we have a public art gallery throughout our city.”
The use of public art in bus shelters often helps to deliver critical messages looking to get in front of a wide audience, from artistically expressing local messaging to stating one’s opinion on global affairs, the self-expression of art is perfectly exhibited through public bus shelters. It’s also a great way to gather a community and create a sense of ownership over their public space.
Branding, like public art, serves a valuable purpose at bus stops as well. Incorporating a transit agency logo and service branding helps to assure passengers they are in the right place as they take comfort in knowing their bus will be arriving soon – with the help of real-time passenger information of course.
“Tolar’s ability to deliver a shelter and totem display that works seamlessly with our branding is a real testament to their experience, flexibility, and ingenuity,” said David Wright, Gary Public Transportation Corporation’s Planning and Marketing Manager from Gary, IN. “Throughout the design and manufacturing process, they continued to reinforce that the BRT elements should create a cohesive sense of place for our passengers. I truly think we achieved that.”
