BEAUTIFUL SPACES CALGARY’S PUBLIC ART

Calgary’s push to create vibrant spaces through public art

By Kate Barker

With roots in agriculture and as the executive headquarters of the oil and gas industry, Calgary can present a cold, industrial image. Sprinkled throughout the city, however, are moments of vibrant light, connecting visitors and locals alike to beautiful displays of creativity.

Calgary is home to over 1300 works of public art, a combination of large pieces commissioned by the city, seasonal popups, and neighbourhood mural projects.

Take a moment as you explore the city to see these places of creativity and feel the stories each piece has to tell.

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01 Hawk Hill Calgary Sentinels Artist: Beverly Pepper Location: Ralph Klein Park

The towering sculpture is “an entrance that people are invited to walk through and experience,” says artist Beverly Pepper. “I wanted something that was inviting, but also something that reflected this area.” The entire piece was designed to work with the landscape and provide a unique experience with each and every visit. As an added surprise, the third sculpture – the smaller, central one – has shown viewers it “has a voice of its own” as it “speaks” when the wind passes through.

02 Wonderland Artist: Jaume Plensa Location: Downtown outside the Bow Building

This commissioned sculpture is a popular attraction in downtown Calgary, and it is a favourite spot for photo ops. The large statue of a girl’s head represents the youthful and vibrant city of Calgary, and the interactive nature of the piece allows people to see it from all angles. Walk inside the sculpture to get an insider’s perspective of downtown or stand back and admire the work as a whole.

03 Convergence Artists: Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan Location: Rocky Ridge Recreation Facility

Designed to respond to the natural environment, the two statues interact with the changing light and with each other, depending on the visitor’s viewpoint. The natural angles and forms were inspired by flocks of birds, the movement of herds, the curves of Chinook clouds, and the natural elements of nature like horns, nests, and dens.

04 Chinook Arc Artists: Joe O’Connell and Blessing Hancock Location: Barb Scott Park

A true community project, Chinook Arc was created through collaboration between the artists, an external company specializing in interactive art experiences, and the Beltline community. The unique shape represents both past and present, bringing together memories of the streetcar loop around the community as well as the Chinook arc that blankets the sky. The sculpture emits a soft glow, and the interactive piece lights up even the darkest of days.

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05 Women are Persons! Artist: Barbara Paterson Location: Olympic Plaza

This statue marks an integral moment in history. The Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby, are depicted celebrating their victory that secured the right for women to be considered fully legal “persons” in Canada in 1929, paving the way for the first woman senator a year later. The interactive piece of public art invites visitors to intermingle with the women, celebrate their victory, and join them to “make the best possible contribution” to their own generation.

06 Beltline Urban Mural Project Artist: Various Location: Beltline, Hazelview, Inglewood, Silver Springs, downtown

In an effort to brighten the community through artwork that’s accessible to everyone, BUMP began in 2017 and has continued to thrive in the urban community. Artists from across the country and around the world have contributed to brighten the spaces, and the annual summer BUMP Festival (p 4) highlights creativity while bringing in top artists.

07 Kawa’pomahkaiks Artist: Adrian Stimson Location: International Avenue Public Art Project

Part of the Siksika Nation, artist Adrian Stimson showcases Kawa’pomahkaik, or Animals That Roam the Prairie, as homage to the animals who used to roam the landscape. The location reflects the changes as the city grew to impede those movements. Each animal is labeled in both English and Blackfoot, and links provide audio to hear the Indigenous words.

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