What if I told you that a pair of stainless-steel eyes watch over the False Creek site? That’s what the Eyes on the Street Sculpture does. It’s one of many public art installations in Vancouver. This piece is more than just a sculpture, it’s a story.
This captivating artwork was crafted by Vancouver-based sculptor, Marie Khouri, and Charlotte Wall. The piece was commissioned by Concert Properties after Expo 86. Marie Khouri was inspired by urbanist author Jane Jacobs who said that “there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those who might call the natural proprietors of the street”. This powerful statement inspired the concept of the piece, two massive stainless-steel eyes. The eyes stand tall at 18 and 12 feet. They are close to each other, influencing and mirroring each other.
The process for creating these giant eyes was fascinating. The sculpture began as a small clay model held in the palm of Marie Khouri’s hand. Then, the sculpture was 3-D scanned scaled up in Styrofoam, carved, and taken to a New York foundry to be cast in the stainless steel. The sculpture is so big that no foundry in Canada could cast it.
The Eyes on the Street Sculpture is a tribute to urban life. Khouri wanted the piece to reflect the beauty of the area and all that Expo brought to the city. The sculpture is a reminder of how public art can bring life and art to an area. As we stand before this piece, we are reminded that our city is a living, breathing entity full of life. The Eyes on the Street Sculpture, will stay with us long after we leave it. It will continue to watch over the False Creek site, symbolizing safety, watchfulness, and community in Vancouver.