Gotta say that I like it better lit up at night.

I live by there,, it’s awfull,its just a large gang symbol, who let this thing be put up,when was the community consulted, makes it look like there’s a churh/gosple there,east van isn’t a chatholic only nieghborhood

I like it better lit up @ night.

agreed-lit up looks good. Day time isn’t my favorite, maybe paint it black.

I disagree with Richard N, I would hope that an icon such as this would evoke more than just a ‘catholic gang symbol’. Perhaps someone could give us some background on the symbol?

Most public art installations go through a huge public consultant process. I would not imagine this to be any different. Typically a call is put out, submissions are received, and then a process is followed to decide.

Reaching out to people who are not interested is tough to accomplish, but afterwards there is always quite the reaction.

Art is meant to evoke emotions, which is always a mixed bag. The fact that this is getting such a reaction is an awesome thing. Imagine if no one even noticed that it was put up??

Bravo to Ken Lum!!

I love it! Lit up at night is great but I’m more of a fan of the daytime sign.

It’s exciting to have something new in the neighborhood that can inspire such debate and interest.

I could be wrong on the history of the east van cross, but back in the mid 1980′s it was skateboards from china creek park that were tagging all over town east van cross, they even had sticker’s, I’m 100% sure it has nothing to with gangs and more of a homage or copy of the dog town skater cross of venice beach, ask PD from the hotshop he probably can recall the some east van skaters doing this, I sure remember it was west side skaters versus east skaters, lead to skateboard fights and stuff, I guess it could be slight gang related if you think of a group of skaters as a gang. No religious meaning what so ever.

Hmm, Vancouver courier article :http://www2.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=cabf1276-0932-46f6-b230-122050228676

“If the sculpture has any religious overtones, it’s that many East Side residents, including Italian and Irish immigrants, are Catholics, said Lum, noting the long histories of Notre Dame and St. Patrick’s schools.”

and

“Lum attempted to trace the roots of the insignia and heard that it was once used by either the Clark Park or Riley Park gangs of the 1950s on their leather jackets.”

Of course one must be weary reading such comments from a Newspaper as that is probably what the general public wants to hear. It seems the symbol evolved the get its most popular meaning through skateboard culture of the ’80′s, like all art to each their own.

It was definitely used in the early 80′s by skaters and punks alike to signify east-side-pride. No religious or gang significance and more than likely a rip-off of the dog town logo. People need to stop beating on the religious connotations. The text forms a cross, so what. It’s a beautiful piece of typography, and a part of our local history. I might add it’s livens up a part of the neighbourhood that’s is so damn ugly. We need more art that has significance that belongs to the people instead of some of the meaningless abstract junk you see all over downtown.

I just read all of the comments on each of the 2 posts and I love how divided everyone is on this.

It’s just art, which Vancouver needs more of… PUBLIC ART.

Being born, raised and still living in east van not far from the new cross, I have to say I love it. Whatever the history of the symbol was its also a part of vancouver history. For me It brings back great memories of growing up in this niebourhood. I see it as a great sign for representing the pride in the east van communtiy in the future. VANCOUVER IS AWESOME! =

The symbol is definitely associated with turf gangs going back to the 50′s. The Clark Parkers were one of the gangs, if not the originators. As those various gangs in east van wound down in the late 70′s its use was limited, but the children of those gang members (who were the early Skaters/punks) rejuvenated this symbol. Maybe an interview with Joe Keithley (DOA) would clarify things a little. Those gangs were not like the current crop of gangbangers (UN, etc). I think that there was also a neon sign done like this, possibly by the pop-artist 12 Midnight, that used to hang at the Dayton store on Hastings St in the 80′s. LOOKS GREAT day or night!

LOVE IT!!!

It’s RAD

read both articles and i still luv the big neon sign. it’s tacky, loud, but awesome! i’m born and raised in east van and proud of it. regardless of the history behind this sign, it sure brings back memories of growing up in the east side. i also appreciate that this work of art has sparked so many people’s interests – it’s great! way to go ken lum!!! no matter what people say, at the end of day, it’s all still art…

I think that the gangs do this in LA too, don’t they? Nice to know that when you cross Clark at that point you enter gang territory. I’m sure all the East Van gang-members and ‘wannabies’ that I’ve known to use this symbol over the years are rubbing their hands together in glee to know that the city of Vancouver has officially tagged us!

East Van Mom:
In Venice LA there’s a logo for DOG TOWN that the east van cross likely got inspiration from. It’s not a gang thing, just a neighbourhood thing there.

All I can say is…. Warriors come out and plaaay!

Sigh, Vancouver continues in its dubious goal to be the city with the worst public art.

I know people like it, and that’s nice and all, but as a piece of art, it’s pretty weak, like the rest of the public art in town. Boring and safe. Like going out for a curry and asking for them to leave out the spice because it upsets your tummy…

it’s such an epic piece of local pop art — maybe one of lum’s best? a beautiful tribute to the neon churches and greaser punks who added colour and edge to the main drags of east van for decades.

I always get some sort of “East Van Christian Society” vibe out of it. Apparently I’m wrong though!…

I remember in the early 70′s on the side of a bilding coming into East Van from Burnaby on Kingsway ….Some have spraypainted in large letters :”" Entering East Van Expect no Mercy..—.. For you shall recieve none “” It was very cool …