I am often stumped when someone asks me, “What’s your favourite Calgary public artwork?” This is a very difficult question because there are 1,000s to choose from and new ones are added almost every month. First, I ask “Do you mean mural, statue, sculpture or installation?” When I think “public artwork,” I usually think something sculptural. It can be a traditional sculpture or perhaps something more modern with several different elements to it.

Recently when surfing my photo library, one downtown Calgary sculpture dominated the others – Jill Arnholt’s “Emergent.” It is a rather strange looking, ribbon-like wooden sculpture at the corner of 1st St and 9th Ave SW, on the plaza of The Edison (formerly Pan Canadian office building), across from the historic Fairmont Palliser Hotel and Grain Exchange buildings.

I like it as it is both interactive and functional - I am a sucker for public art that engages the public in some sort of exploration. With “Emergent,” there are three are places along the undulating ribbon where you can sit and people watch if you are so inclined, or while waiting to meet someone. As well, it looks like the ribbon has been cut in one place with the two ends emerging out of the ground. When you explore the cut pieces you discover there is are two larger than life-size vertical mirrors on the inside which reflect the surrounding buildings in very bizarre ways. These mirrors create fun photo opportunities for locals and tourists, as well as street photographers.

Emergent?

And then too there is the title “Emergent.” It makes me wonder, how does that word apply to this artwork? I enjoy public art with lots of layers and that make you think. The definition of the “emergent” is “to be in the process of becoming prominent or something that is taller than other items that surround it.” At first I thought latter doesn’t make sense because all the buildings surround it are much taller than it, but it could reference how the mirrors emerge out the flat plaza and how they reflect Calgary’s downtown towers emerging from the flat prairies.

Metaphorically, could the title be linked to Calgary emerging as Western Canada’s major financial and business centre over the past 50 years. Or even Calgary’s emergence as one of North America’s great art centres – think Glenbow, National Music Centre, Alberta University of the Arts, Mount Royal Music Conservatory and those 1,000s of public artworks I mentioned earlier.

After a bit of research, I found “Emergent” was inspired by its location near the Canadian Pacific Railway (now Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway) tracks nearby. The railway has been fundamental to Calgary becoming a major transportation and distribution hub on the Canadian prairies. The railway was how the early settlers arrived and in fact the CPR executives determined where our downtown is located today.

When the sun is in the right place the reflection in the mirror is intensified to create this surreal burst of light.

The wooden slats of the sculpture reference railway ties. There is an also a track embedded in the wood. The vertical mirrors are angled specifically to reflect the iconic buildings in the area – the Calgary Tower, the Palliser Hotel, the Grain Exchange Building and Calgary’s tallest building Brookfield Place.

The piece was manufactured by Heavy, a Calgary company that has become a leader in the manufacturing of public art. They were responsible for the construction of Jaume Plensa’s “Wonderland,” the “big white head” on the plaza of The Bow office tower. They are also creating the unique pillowy, marshmallow-like panels for the new façade of the Glenbow.

For me, what makes “Emergent” my favourite downtown public artwork is how form and function meet to create something playful, useful and thoughtful.

While Arnholt lives in Vancouver, Calgary must seem like her second home as she has numerous other sculptures located across the city.

“Where?” You ask.

“Marking” is her work at The Confluence Park/Fort Calgary. It consists of a series of carved wood posts that outline the original 1875 Fort Calgary. At night is its illuminated red, creating an eerie, dream-like experience in the middle of the park.

*Photography by: Carlos Amat and* *Yellowhouse Aerial*

“Below/Before/Between” is located at the 5th Street SW underpass between 9th and 10th Aves. It consists of a series of light blue barriers between the sidewalk and road, suggesting a gentle flow of water. It was inspired by Calgarians love their two rivers, the Bow and Elbow.

“TransitStory” consists of 30 life-size human sculptures fabricated from steel and painted cheerful colours. As you walk past the sculptures, they change colours creating a fun kinetic experience. You can sit amongst the figures or just admire them from afar. They are currently located at the 45th Street LRT Station. (FYI: They were originally located at downtown Convention Centre station on 7th Ave.)

And, tucked along the side of the South Calgary Emergency Response Station (aka Fire station) on 14th Ave SW are five sculptures that Anholt cleverly designed to look like five dancing hoses. They do double duty as they also serve as lights along the sidewalk. The title of the piece is “Charged Line” which may refer to electrical wires that are still live which one might encounter at a fire. Or, at least to me, they look as if someone has dropped the hose while the water is still on and it is dancing around due to the water pressure. Either way, this artwork is fun and functional.

Last Word

Around the world these days, public art is being embraced as a means of making cities and communities more attractive places to live, play and work. Calgary is no exception.

My Favourite Calgary Public Artwork?

“Where?” You ask.

Last Word

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