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Vancouver Halts Reinstallation of Trans Am Rapture at Granville Bridge

City staff will revisit earlier site assessments to identify a new home for the 33-foot sculpture; the existing pad will be repurposed for a smaller public art piece.

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Workers finish the installation of Marcus Bowcott's Trans Am Totem on March 31 2015.
 Marcus Bowcott talks to the media as he waits for the completion of his art installation the Trans Am Totem Vancouver, March 31 2015.

Overview

  • The City of Vancouver cancelled plans to reinstall Trans Am Rapture at the Granville Bridge site due to concerns over its size and scale.
  • Staff have been directed to review previously assessed locations and explore new sites that can better accommodate the artwork’s dimensions.
  • Excavation and concrete foundation work already completed at the bridge loop will serve as a base for a future smaller-scale public art installation.
  • Trans Am Rapture stands 10 metres tall and weighs over 25,000 pounds, featuring five crushed cars balanced atop an old-growth cedar trunk.
  • Originally unveiled for the 2015 Vancouver Biennale and made permanent in 2019 after a US$250,000 donation, the sculpture was removed in 2021 for restoration following structural damage and bird contamination.