Time Top Sculpture

A curious sight greets you on False Creek’s north shore. It’s the Time Top Sculpture, a large, bronze form. It looks both familiar and otherworldly. This captivating piece was the final creation of Canadian artist Jerry Pethick. The Time Top Sculpture was inspired by a childhood memory and a science fiction comic strip. Pethick recalled a small arched opening in his childhood home. It sparked his imagination, much like the “time top” in the Brick Bradford comic. This comic, created by William Ritt and Clarence Gray, featured a time-traveling device. It transported the adventurer Brick Bradford through different eras. This concept resonated with Pethick, who saw the time top as a symbol of technology and wonder. He connected it to his own exploration of space in his art. Pethick envisioned his Time Top Sculpture as a relic from this fictional world. He imagined it landing in the waters of British Columbia after a journey across the Pacific. The Time Top Sculpture’s creation was a journey in itself. After Pethick’s passing in 2003, his wife Margaret led a team to bring his vision to life. Following his detailed instructions, the Harmon Foundry in Sechelt cast the sculpture in marine-grade bronze. Then, the Time Top began a unique two-year transformation. Submerged in the ocean near Gibsons, it was connected to an electrical current. This process, called accretion, attracted mollusks and minerals. This created a distinctive crust on the bronze surface. In 2006, the Time Top Sculpture was finally installed on False Creek. Four granite capstones along the seawall feature images and text from the original Brick Bradford comic strip. They add another layer to the story of this intriguing artwork. The Time Top Sculpture stands as a testament to Pethick’s fascination with time, space, and the power of imagination.