Woodpecker Column - Toronto, ON - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

Two giant woodpeckers are taking a break from pecking the bare trunk of the tree just behind the convention centre. For years, because of this sculptures proximity to Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome) I thought it was a baseball bat and wondered why those weren't blue jays on the bat. This sculpture adds some nature and some colour to the downtown core of Toronto which is getting eaten up more and more by new condos. The 30-metre tall column is black in colour and has numerous holes it it, presumably from these woodpeckers pecking away at it. Both of the birds have bright splashes of colour even though they are predominantly black and white. The birds also have a good shine which is a nice contrast to the dull black of the column.

Woodpecker Column is one of the featured pieces of art (#18) on the City of Toronto's Art Walk - Toronto's Outdoor Art Gallery. Link: (visit link)

"Woodpecker Column
Fastwürms, 1997

Dominating the south entrance to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is Woodpecker Column by artists Dai Skuse and Kim Kozzi working collaboratively under the name Fastwürms.

This 30-metre tall column rises from the concrete in unexpectedly stark but delightful contrast to the geometric regularity of the building, appearing to be pecked by a pileated woodpecker and yellow bellied sapsucker. References to nature frequently occur in the art of Fastwürms and in this case it is specific to the site’s history as a swamp where waterlogged and decaying trees would have attracted indigenous woodpeckers."

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Woodpecker Column Figure Type: Animal Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Fastwürms Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1997 Materials used: Steel and fiberglass Location: Near the south entrance to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, north side of Bremner Blvd, just west of Simcoe Street.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/28/2023 Ariberna visited it 02/23/2023 Hügh visited it 11/06/2019 Bon Echo visited it 05/21/2018 NH82 visited it 05/19/2016 elyob visited it 04/12/2016 MrARC visited it 08/06/2015 tugies visited it 06/13/2015 SweetPea57 visited it 07/08/2014 jiggs11 visited it 08/06/2013 dieSulzer visited it 06/22/2013 Trail Blaisers visited it 07/01/2012 lu2lu visited it 06/12/2012 petendot visited it 09/08/2011 mTn_biKer65 visited it 03/27/2011 loupdevou visited it 06/02/2002 SMacB visited it

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