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The best art is generally seen as something that can spark a conversation.

If that’s the case, the city has arguably spent millions on some breathtaking conversation starters — many of them for all the wrong reasons.

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Here are some of Calgary’s more infamous examples of public art that didn’t quite hit the mark:

2009 Bearing — Built for $221,000, this large metal ball was made from fasteners, washers and bearings to represent work done at the Calgary Fire Department’s apparatus repair and maintenance facility in the northeast. Unfortunately, the yard seldom sees visits from members of the public and is behind a metal fence that surrounds the facility.

2012 Peace Bridge — While not technically a city public art project, this polarizing pedestrian bridge soured many at the time due to its hefty price tag ($24.5 million) and the fact that the city sought out famed architect Santiago Calatrava without going through the standard public tendering process for infrastructure. It’s since become an iconic part of the city’s skyline, but has also faced struggles with broken glass panes that are expensive to replace and some lingering public resentment.