Calgary’s Hidden Art Gems: Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre
I’ll bet most Calgarians don’t know that two of Calgary’s most esteemed artists are creating what they hope will be Western Canada’s largest sculpture park. Located in Springbank, just west of the city, Katie Ohe and Harry Kiyooka are quietly creating a sculpture park on their acreage where they have lived and worked since 1978.
KOAC sculpture park and sanctuary walk.
Katie & Harry
Found this piece hidden in the meadow behind the studio.
Katie, a renowned Canadian sculptor, had a major retrospective exhibition at Calgary’s Esker Gallery in 2019. She was a sculpture instructor at the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly Alberta College of Art and Design) from 1970 to 2010.
She also taught at The Banff Centre, University of Calgary and Mount Royal University and Calgary Allied Art Centre over the years. She is represented locally at the Herringer Kiss Gallery.
Harry, an accomplished painter and printmaker taught at the University of Calgary for 27 years before retiring in 1988.
He has exhibited his work nationally and internationally and has been a mentor for many artists over the past 50+ years.
It has always been their dream to create sculpture park and arts centre on their acreage as a way of giving back to the community that has supported them for the past 50 years.
The Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre (KOAC) was incorporated in 2007 and received its charitable society status in 2010. Since then, new sculptures have been slowly appearing in the sculpture park through donations from various sources, while Harry and Katie continue to live there and create art.
A work in progress? An abandoned work?
Missing CBC Sculpture?
Have you ever wondered what happened to the strange metal sculpture that used to grace the corner of the old CBC building on Memorial Drive? Well, now refurbished in bright orange, this 2-ton artwork is resting at the KOAC. Yes, CBC donated Roy Leadbeater’s “Steel Wave” to the KOAC, in 2018.
Ray Arnatt’s estate has donated two of his colourful and playful sculptures - Binder and Blocks - to the sculpture park. Both would be at home in a funky playground. The largest sculpture is Charles Boyce’s “Bridge” a huge bright yellow structure that looks more like a skeleton of a dinosaur, than a bridge. It is fun to walk around and under. Other smaller works located around their home, including three pieces by Katie herself. And, while there are no signs saying private property, we didn’t feel comfortable walking into their backyard. However, it was fun to peek into the studio building and sculptor-in-residence Patricia Lortie’s work in progress.
There are currently 17 sculptures on view. The park is free to the public, but the best way to really appreciate the art and the vision is to book a tour. For information on how to book a tour and/or learn about art classes and other programming is by the KOAC website. Or if you are in the area, just stop by and wander. FYI: The park’s pathways are mostly just mowed grass, so wear appropriate footwear and there are no other amenities there. Give yourself an hour for a visit.
Springbank, with its big bold blue foothill skies and Rocky Mountains in the background provides an ideal setting for a sculpture park. For the public, it is a lovely place to go for a short walk or sit and reflect. For artists, the KOAC can be a special place to reflect on their work and be inspired by nature.
Link: KOAC.
Steel Wave, Roy Leadbeater
Bridge, Charles Boyce
Blocks, Ray Arnatt
Shimmering Willow, James Ziegler
Tall Feathers, James Ziegler
Queen of the Night, Michael Sandle
Binder, Ray Arnatt
Dandelion, Kathryn Dobbin
This piece oscillates just like a dandelion would in the wind.
Territories of Dreams. Created to celebrate the 100th birthday of Jean Paul Riopelle. Public was asked to choose a ribbon, think about the dream you would like to share, write your dream on the ribbon and walk into the enclosure and attach your ribbon to the enclosure.
Merging: The Golden Rectangle. A collaborative sculpture by 12 artists lead by James Ziegler, Bob Stowell and John Gohmann.
Doodle #4, Katie Ohe
Kiyooka Garden, by Katie Ohe.
Calgary’s Other Artists’ Art Centre
Calgarians are fortunate to have two special places to enjoy and appreciate the synergies between art and nature, the other being the Leighton Centre just southwest of the City.
Ironically, it was the home of A.C. Leighton who first came to Calgary from England, in 1929 to be the Art Director of the Art Institute of Calgary and his wife Barbara, who was one of his students. After the passing of her husband in 1965, Barbara continued to pursue her interest in art, eventually opening the Leighton Centre in 1974 by turning the family home into a gallery and museum, which still operates today. It is the perfect destination for an afternoon drive.
Link: Leighton Art Centre The Institute later became ACAD where Katie Ohe taught for so many years.
In 1952, they purchased land near Millarville for their retirement home and studio, which was eventually built in 1960.
Last Word
Calgary has more arts and culture experiences that many people think. Like any city, it takes decades, even centuries, for a city’s unique cultural and sense of place to evolve and be recognized nationally and internationally.
It is artists like Katie Ohe, Harry Kiyooka, A.C. and Barbara Leighton, as well as collectors like Eric Harvie (Glenbow), Samuel Clarence Nickle (Nickle Galleries, University of Calgary) and Jim Hill (Esker Gallery) giving back to their community who, over time, help make our city a great place to live, play and work.
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