Dear Urban Decoder: What’s with the City of Vancouver sign in the Rogers building?—Clio Watson, The Beach

If you’ve ever walked into Rogers HQ at the foot of Mount Pleasant, you have no doubt been puzzled by the large green road sign. A clever ploy to disorient spies from Bell Canada? Not quite. It’s a replica created by Vancouver artist Ron Terada, who intended to demonstrate how everyday objects can become art when taken out of their regular context. A plaque next to the piece reads, “Like Andy Warhol before him, Terada draws upon popular culture for inspiration.” This particular work was snapped up in 2002 by Rogers honcho Phil Lind and now has added meaning due to Rogers’ role as corporate sponsor for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Plus, it sure beats another Rogers sign.