Installing a mosaic in a road or sidewalk at UBC involves more than just an idea and some cash. There is quite a process involved. Any modification from the smallest change in a sidewalk to building an entirely new building has an approval process behind which sits a large number of staff, each doing their particular job. This story is about how a public art project got done, from conception to final unveiling.
From conception
Funding approval was given by the Equity and Inclusion Office (EOI) with a $50,000 cash allocation in April 2020. Campus and Community Planning subsequently picked up project costs exceeding the EOI allocation.
Karen Russell, Manager Development Services Campus and Community Planning (C+CP) said:
“The mosaic project was first submitted to C+CP as an application in 2021 and the permit was issued later that year. At that time the mosaic size was 7 x 7 feet. Due to delays with the project itself, this permit expired and a new application was submitted in spring 2023. The mosaic was slightly larger in this submission at approximately 7 x 9 feet (actually 6’8” x 8’11”).”
Prior to C+CP approval of the development permit people involved with the conceptual development had “been meeting for many months to plan and discuss installing a permanent Two-Spirit Pride Installation on the UBC Vancouver campus” (DP Application Document, undated).
The design is described as “using traditional Coast Salish art style and shapes, and emulates the rainbow pride symbol already used by our settler LGBTQ+ friends.”
While the conceptual work took several years, nothing was possible until the project was run through UBC’s development permit application process (which is fairly tightly constrained and typically a time sensitive process).
Design and development approval
I spoke with Jennifer Dick, the project manager charged with oversight of the installation. I asked Jennifer to explain the technical side of the process.
“First,” Jennifer said, “you have to get a development permit before you can do anything else, and you have to explain why you're getting it done and wait until they [Campus and Community Planning] give you the okay. You have to do that for anything you're doing outside, visibly outside. UBC wants to make sure that the campus stays nice and beautiful. So that's the first step. Then the second is to find somebody who'll actually do the work for you, which for this project was really tricky because originally it was going to stay in building facilities, but they decided that they didn't have the capacity to do it, either the equipment or the know how, because it's an art project. So it needs to be a little bit more specific. So then we've done a few other projects on campus through project services, artwork wise. So I asked the project manager on ‘A walk in time’ over at Earth and Ocean Sciences and contacted that contractor to do the work.”
Once the art design was prepared a mosaic artist, Liz Calvin, was contracted to fabricate the mosaic.
UBC Media Relations said “amid several options presented and considered, the mosaic medium was selected as per the preferences of the artist and Musqueam community members part of the project, and with the understanding of the cost of the fabrication. The contractor was selected based on their unique expertise and relevant and demonstrated experience” (email October 6, 2023).
In order to prepare the site for the mosaic a large slab of concrete had to be cut out of the sidewalk and then refilled with concrete leaving a space to lay the mosaic tile so it is flush with the surface of he sidewalk and does not pose a hazard.
Jennifer described how artist Liz Calvin would install the mosaic in the sidewalk. I had asked if each tile would be laid on site, but Jennifer explained the artist created the mosaic in their studio first and then brought it onsite to install already essentially complete.
“She has it in a few different pieces, Jennifer said. “First she'll come in and she has to do a little bit of work on the site to make sure that it's good enough for her to lay her tile in. So she does that work. Then she'll put the tile in in different pieces. So she lays down her thin set and the mosaic might be in ten different pieces.”
“She puts it on a mesh piece with a different kind of cement glue. Then they are a little bit brittle so she doesn't like to handle them too much. Next she'll put them together on site, lets that dry overnight, and then she comes back and grouts it.”
Marko Pajalic, Communications Manager for the Equity and Inclusion Office (lead UBC organization in project), described the technical detail of the mosaic as follows.
“The mosaic artwork is to be approximately 56 square feet (or 7 feet by 8 feet). The tile used will be Daltile “Natural Hues”, a commercial grade interior/exterior tile with a very low water absorption rate, considered suitable for this application and successfully demonstrated in previous tiled public art installations. The mortar used will be Mapei* Keralastic/Kerabond System, a two-part premium grade mortar and acrylic latex additive system. The exceptional bond and flexural strength as well as the exceptional freeze/thaw durability make this product combination a great mortar system. Grout used will be a Mapei product as well, Ultracolor Plus with Polymer. This premium grout reduces surface absorption, to help repel water, dirt and grim from penetrating grout joints. The application of grout sealer manufactured by Stonetech is the final step in the installation process. The contractor considers this to be the best water-based sealer on the market, repelling water, liquids and most stains with its patented microbond sealant technology” via UBC Media Relations, September 1, 2023.
Project cost
The overall cost of this project is about $76,000. $50,000 from UBC’s Equity and Inclusion Office and $26,000 from UBC Campus and Community Planning. The EIO portion of the budget was approved in April 2020 (UBC Media Relations shared cost data in an email October 6, 2023).
The construction estimate is about $25,000 to prepare the site for the mosaic installations (UBC approved development permit). As described by Jennifer Dick, the site preparation was managed by the construction office in UBC Facilities.
UBC Media Relations said “the contract to fabricate/create the mosaic by Liz Calvin Mosaics was signed at $32,000. The final cost at completion of the mosaic amounted to $34,395.90, with additional $5,663.50 incurred due to shifting timeframes, added coordination, and site issues: $40,059.40 These additional costs included: approximately one year mosaic storage at $1,040, additional communications and coordination with UBC $1,123.5 beyond contract timeframe, and $3,500 for fabricator’s repeat travel time and costs and extra resourcing support at point of installation – they had to come twice as the site was inadequately prepared the first time and brought additional support to expedite the work and ensure quality.
“The art design by the artist Mack Paul was a gift to the university” (email October 6, 2023).
Unveiling
The mosaic is now installed. An official unveiling ceremony will be held toward the end of October, 2023. The UBC Equity & Inclusion Office and Campus and Community Planning -lead project organizations- shared that they are proud to support the work towards the installation of the mosaic.
This is a “representation of the Coast Salish Two Spirit Pride symbol,” UBC Media Relations said on behalf of EIO and C+CP. It is “a visual representation of Coast Salish Two Spirit unity, dignity and respect. This work aligns with our office’s and UBC’s efforts to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, visibility and sense of belonging and community; in this case, related specifically to Two-Spirit inclusion. It’s been our privilege and pleasure to be engaged on this project.”