Dancing Between Worlds: When Art Appears in the Middle of the Road

Roundabouts have become increasingly common in communities across British Columbia. In Surrey, some roundabouts now feature sculptures that combine traffic safety with creativity, providing a visual focal point for drivers and encouraging them to slow down and navigate these intersections with care.

Recently, Phoenix had the pleasure of helping the City of Surrey install its newest public art piece, ‘Dancing Between Worlds’, by Ontario artists Nicholas Crombach in one of these roundabouts. Our role was to ensure the artwork arrived safely and placed precisely where it the artist envisioned it. Our crane #1403 picked up the piece from our Port Coquitlam warehouse and delivered it to Port Kells, where the sculpture will serve as a welcoming landmark to those entering the community.

The City of Surrey selected the artist proposal, and over the past year Nicholas Crombach worked to bring his vision to life. The sculpture combines aluminium and steel and features a larger-than-life North American river otter, a species deeply connected to the waterways and ecosystems of the region. Its title, Dancing Between Worlds, reflects one of the ideas that has been fascinating Nicholas in his recent work: the concept of an ecotone, the transition zone between two different ecosystems.

Nicholas researched Surrey and its unique character as part of developing the piece. A booming city where urban development meets countryside, and where human environments and natural ecosystems exist side by side. The otter, depicted swimming between earth and water, captures that idea beautifully: a creature moving between two worlds.

And then came our part.

At approximately 1,000 pounds, the sculpture didn’t require one of our larger cranes, but the location presented its own challenges. We needed a truck small enough to safely enter the roundabout while remaining within the required approach limits around the surrounding power lines. Our compact unit and skilled operator were the perfect fit.

This crane and operator have become somewhat of a familiar face in Surrey’s art scene, as we reminded the City of Surrey’s Public Art representative onsite that the same truck installed another piece of art Bear Creek Park a few years ago. Small world, or perhaps just a very recognizable Phoenix truck with a professional, talented and experienced operator.

Once traffic control had secured the area, our team carefully entered the roundabout, positioned the truck and unloaded the sculpture into its exact location, working alongside the crew from Great Northern Way Scene Shop.

And just like that, Dancing Between Worlds found its home.

Nicholas’s vision and talent can now be enjoyed by everyone travelling through the intersection of Harvie Road and 88th Avenue. Next time you drive by, do what the roundabout has intended, slow down and take a moment to enjoy.

Surrey’s commitment to public art continues with the next sculpture design selected and rewarded to local artist Jessie Sohpaul’s and will be placed in the roundabout at 132 Street and 60 Avenue. The City’s Public Art Team will also be accepting submissions for a piece to fill a roundabout in South Surrey. Just another chance for an artist to be featured in British Columbia’s fastest growing city.