ARA B. MAMOURIAN

Toronto Police Headquarters, the Rogers Centre, and the Queen East Bridge covering the Don Valley Parkway all have something unusual in common. Each Toronto location is home to one of Eldon Garnet's public installation works of art.

Riverdale may not have been Eldon's home, but when their Business Improvement Association issued an open call to artists for proposals on an East end bridge project, the internationally renowned artist who specializes in large-scale photography and public sculptures was intrigued.

According to local lore, the local BIA was persuaded by an elderly area clock-maker to create a piece of art that would serve as a gateway into his community.

"I sent in a rough idea, and ended up as one of five finalists." says Eldon. "Winning, as it happens, was my introduction to this part of town."

Appearing at the entrance to Riverdale over the DVP bridge on Queen Street East. Eldon's art installation titled. Time: And a Clock, took shape in 1995. he describes it as one work based in three sites.

Across the bridge, a line of text runs over traffic reading: The river I step in is not the river I stand in. All text appears in stainless steel lettering 18 inches in height. A ring - 6 feet in diameter - encases a clock in the middle of the design. Four expressions dealing with time embedded in the sidewalk continue the piece, and are found at each corner of Broadview Avenue / Queen Street intersection.

The corner expressions read as follows: Too soon free from time; Time is money; money is time, Better late than never; Time = Distance X velocity.

Jimmy Simpson Park holds the portion of his installation further East (on a side note - this is Pepper's first ever park), also in four pieces. Stainless steel pennants contain declarations of time; which compose a lyrical poem when connected; Coursing, Disappearing, Trembling, Returning.

"My intention was to create a work of art that could be experienced at different points in time," explains Eldon. "A variety of people can pass one site today, and another tomorrow. It's read in parts, and created in parts - never at one place at one time - a text in flux."

Placement of the clock, explains Eldon, was a gift to the clock-maker responsible for making the piece of art possible.

"As an artist, I never want to compromose, but as a temporary neighbour, the addition of teh clock was the right thing to do." said Eldon. " I try not to have any regrets after my projects are complete. They are what they should be, and so it Time: And a Clock."