An iconic piece of New Westminster’s waterfront has been removed.
The City announced on Thursday that the WOW Westminster public art installation, known to most as the ‘W’, could not be saved.
It suffered fire damage when Pier Park went up in flames on Sunday night and it was deemed that the timber wharf was too unstable to support the art installation either way.
“We are sad that we are losing this public art piece, as it was iconic to our city and waterfront,” said Mayor Jonathan X. Cote.
“We did everything in our power to save it, but we weren’t able to do it in a way that was feasible and safe.”
We are sad to say that on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the WOW Westminster public art installation by Brazilian artist José Resende was removed from the timber wharf at Westminster Pier Park following extensive efforts to save this iconic piece. https://t.co/HasCj1INCl #newwest pic.twitter.com/iHstySLxh5
— New_Westminster (@New_Westminster) September 17, 2020
On Wednesday, the emergency response command centre determined the connections between the ‘W’ and the wharf were so degraded that it wasn’t possible to remove it in a safe way.
Crews were quickly mobilized in order to mitigate any further safety issues and the structure was finally removed.
The ‘W’ was originally installed as part of Vancouver Biennale’s Open Air Museum presentation in New Westminster in 2015.
It’s a 140-foot installation, comprised of four 40-foot shipping containers designed to form the ‘W’.
“WOW Westminster was a significant part of the City’s public art collection and was a favourite conversation piece for New West residents and the public art community alike,” said Councillor Mary Trentadue.
“The piece had become such an integral part of the community and we are collectively saddened at its loss.”
On Thursday, the New Westminster Police Department announced that a male suspect had been arrested in connection to the fire.
He was brought into custody on arson-related offences, but later released on a number of conditions as the investigation continues.
