We continue our week-long tour of public art in Canada with a stop in Vancouver.

Some say that with the mountains, the ocean, and a view of it all from Stanley Park, why would such a scenic city need art in the view? But Vancouver is growing fast. It's an increasingly urban landscape, with towers and the transit hustle starting to block some of the best views.

The city of Vancouver is on to a good thing, with new rules that require developers to commission public works of art in front of new buildings being constructed. There's some criticism of this initiative, and a deep suspicion on the part of some critics that developers, out of spite, are deliberately choosing "ugly" art. But such suspicions can be put to rest now that Vancouver's newest piece of public art has been unveiled.

Funded by the Concord Pacific Group, which is spending at grand total of $8 million on the former Expo site, artist Chris Dikeakos and architect Noel Best have created an astoundingly beautiful sculpture/rain shelter called Lookout. The piece uses words, images and hieroglyphs to reveal the history of False Creek. Both men worked in the then-industrial area in the 1960s and '70s and know the lay of the land. and they watched in awe as Expo '86 moved in and transformed this area into something touristy and kitschy. Now it's a hip urban development.

The artwork consists of two concrete pavilions with glass roofs that are supported by sheets of steel, and features the added convenience of 13 chairs. This offers visitors a place to enjoy the panoramic view of the south shore of False Creek.

You can find the sculpture at the foot of Davie Street, just around the corner from the Urban Fare grocery store.

Or you can see it on the web:
The Lookout Sculpture

Look back on our week of coverage of public art in Canada: