Alipes

Image of the concrete and steel sculpture installed in front of the building.
Year
2006
Artist
Jean Halstead and Svetlana Swinimer
Media
Sculpture
Material
Concrete and steel
Collection number
2006-0043
Venue
Art at buildings
Art in the street

Description

In keeping with the values and mission of Ottawa’s paramedics, artists Jean Halstead and Svetlana Swinimer designed a sculpture with three symbols: a staff, a snake and wings.

  • The staff stands for the unwavering ethics of medical providers
  • The snake represents wisdom and knowledge
  • The wings stand for urgent action

Alipes is a Latin word meaning “wing-footed.” The wings, composed of two steel plates welded together, form a folded map of Ottawa, referencing the reach and impact of the Ottawa Paramedic Service. The fold of the wings is at the same angle as the prow of the Headquarters building. This feature reiterates the spirit of readiness and motion expressed in the architecture of the building.

As stated by the artists, "the goal of [the] work is to focus public attention on the mission of the Ottawa Paramedic Service by interpreting the symbols of the organization. In their emblem of staff, snake and wings, the Ottawa Paramedic Service has combined elements of the Aesculapian staff and the caduceus."

Location

Ottawa Paramedic Service Headquarters