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In this issue:

  • Edmonton Arts Council :: Edmonton Public Art Recognized with Urban Design Awards
  • New in Edmonton Public Art :: #YEGCanvas
  • Call to Edmonton Artists :: Rossdale Pocket Park (RFP)
  • In the News :: The Return of #YEGCanvas!
  • YEGArts Blog :: Planning Our Next 10 Years

 
Edmonton Public Art Recognized with Urban Design Awards
Public art, be it intimate or intense; larger than life or human-scaled, is part of our urban and emotional landscapes. Successful pieces tell stories, act as a lens through which the past, present, and future can be viewed, unite people, and provide surprising juxtapositions while also beautifying their site, and defining their city. Three distinct public art works received recognition at the 2017 Edmonton Urban Design Awards on November 3. They each highlight aspects of our city while delighting the senses.

Read on for descriptions of AmiskwacÎw Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin (Destiny Swiderski, Michael Phair Pocket Park), Tsa Tsa Ke K’e – Iron Foot Place (Alex Janvier, Rogers Place, Ford Hall), and #YEGCanvas (various artists in collaboration with Pattison Outdoor Advertising)


(Photo: Shirley Tse, Girl Named Shirl Photography)
 
AmiskwacÎw Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin ~ Award of Excellence, Urban Fragments
AmiskwacÎw Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin is immersive wayfinding that celebrates Edmonton’s people, history, landscape, and wildlife. Located in an alley flanking a downtown pocket park, the mural animates the space and leads to a larger adjoining park space. 

Walkers are led from park to park by a flock of Bohemian waxwing birds. The swooping flock of 150 copper silhouettes depicts the birds in all stages of flight. Each is decorated with a unique storytelling pattern. The artist, who is of Métis heritage, facilitated a series of community-based workshops where community members were invited to tell their personal stories through drawings and pattern making. The artist then incorporated these images onto each bird. 

There are 10 different Bohemian waxwing silhouettes used in the mural; flight studies were used to determine the images from takeoff to mid-flight and beyond. This procession is further accentuated by an aerosol painting depicting the edge of the boreal forest – Edmonton’s natural context and the landscape that is true to “this place”. 

AmiskwacÎw Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin places nehiyawak, or Plains Cree, spoken in the Edmonton area, within a historical context and hierarchy. The place name appears first as syllabics, followed by the Roman alphabet representation of the language, and lastly English – thus depicting the history of habitation within Edmonton. AmiskwacÎw Wâskâyhkan Ihtâwin expresses the Indigenous roots of this special place; a place to gather and share stories about the past, present, and future. 

The jury said “This piece cleverly and ambitiously uses a difficult urban feature and context and turns it into a beautiful piece of art. The movement of the piece pulls you into the park, and cleverly bridges two important public spaces. The scale and typography portray a simple elegance and a utilitarian purpose. It would be great to continue the initiative of public art on remaining walls”.


(Photo: Dwayne Martineau, Laughing Dog Photography)

Tsa Tsa Ke K’e – Iron Foot Place ~ Award of Merit, Urban Fragments
Tsa Tsa Ke K’e evokes Edmonton’s landscape, seasons, and deep history as a meeting place for many cultures. The imagery is executed in a combination of Indigenous and contemporary art influences and techniques. Situated amidst the swooping lines of a major public space, and the linchpin of a public art collection, Tsa Tsa Ke K’e is a colourful compliment to the facility’s architectural style. 

More than just a beautiful piece of art, this piece creates a focal point and gathering space within one of Edmonton’s most important new buildings 

The jury was impressed, not just by the artistic merit, but by the story told by the piece calling it “a vibrant two-dimensional centerpiece”. 

(Photo: Doyle C. Marko, DCM Photography)

#YEGCanvas 2015-2018 ~ Award of Merit, Community Projects

#YEGCanvas is a six-month, multi-year transitory public art exhibition taking place on billboards throughout Edmonton and on posters along the Capital and Metro LRT Lines. The project exhibits artworks from Indigenous, culturally diverse, and emerging artists. Over the past three years, #YEGCanvas has increased exposure of local art and artists, while delighting Edmonton’s commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists with art in unexpected locations. A mobile-friendly interactive map directs fans to the new art locations every two months. 

The jury said “It’s great to see people engaging with billboards in a new way which contrasts their original intended use. This initiative promotes the work of many local artists”. 

Click here for the 2017 EUDA Winners Booklet & information on all the recipients
(A Touch of Sienna)

New in Edmonton Public Art :: #YEGCanvas Returns for a third artventureous year
 
#YEG’s favourite interactive, transitory public art exhibition returns to the city’s streets and LRT tracks for a third inventive year. #YEGCanvas, featuring 45 new artworks by 43 Edmonton artists will brighten billboards and posters from November 2017 until April 2018. The initiative is presented through a partnership between the Edmonton Arts Council and Pattison Outdoor Advertising.


(L: Rooted Man R: Manmer Crossing the Alps)

#YEGCanvas; a citywide billboard and LRT station-based art exhibition, features art spanning a diversity of genres and disciplines including digital media, ceramics, photography, watercolour, acrylic, drawing, and fibre art. Artworks were chosen from more than 500 submissions by 179 artists. Over the next six months, the artworks will be displayed on 10 billboards, located throughout the city, and on 15 LRT station posters along the Capital and Metro Lines. The art will be rotated every two months.  You are invited to explore the exhibition using the online tour map.


(kakike amiskwaciy- waskahikan: forever and always beaver hills house)

Including this edition, 135 artworks by 107 Edmonton artists have been exhibited since 2015. The exhibition not only delights the eyes and senses, but also provides a valuable and relevant opportunity for artists to explore public art practice as well as exposing their work to a wider audience.

Edmonton mosaic artist Karen Klassen participated in the 2016-2017 exhibition. “Public art calls can be daunting,” says Klassen. “#YEGCanvas gives all artists an entry level experience and introduction into this process, and gives the inexperienced artists confidence and validation. It puts all artists, on any level, on an even playing field because anyone can apply. Participation had a huge effect on my career. It was not only fantastic exposure, it boosted my confidence level, and I am now collaborating on a percent for art project in an Edmonton park!” Klassen is working with Edmonton mosaicist Erin Pankratz to create a mosaic art wall for Dermott Park on the south side.

Call to Edmonton Artists :: Rossdale Pocket Park (RFP)
 
The Rossdale Pocket Park public art competition, open to professional artists residing in Edmonton and area, is held in accordance with the City of Edmonton policy "Percent for Art to Provide and Encourage Art in Public Areas" (C458C).

The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, seeks an artist or artist team to create an outdoor sculptural installation for the Rossdale Pocket Park. The artwork can be existing, in as new condition, or a new creation. The sculpture(s) should be of intimate scale to suit the park's setting.

The Rossdale Pocket Park Project expands the existing Rossdale Linear park using land that is part of the fenced property surrounding Fire Station 21. The revitalized park will offer an inviting, usable, and safe space to the public.

The artwork(s) will be sited in the park's northwest corner. Two to four potential sites will be available. Artwork(s) will be placed on brick plinths.
 
Budget:
$23,000.00 CAD (maximum, all inclusive)

Deadline for Submissions:
4:30 pm MST on Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Installation:
Early Fall 2018
 
For more information, or if you have questions, please email Grace Law, Public Art Officer, or call 780.424.2787 extension 230.
 
The Edmonton Arts Council is committed to equity in all aspects of its work, and invites proposals from all potentially interested artists. 

(Chromeleon)

In the News :: Expect Advertising, Find Art
by Madeleine Cummings
Publication: Edmonton Examiner

Watch for beautiful billboards over the next six months.

#YEGCanvas, a public art exhibition that installs local artists’ work on billboards and at LRT stations has returned for a third year through a partnership between the Edmonton Arts Council and Pattison Outdoor Advertising.

A selection committee chose 45 pieces this year from a pool of more than 500 submissions.

The art will appear throughout the city until April, with works rotating locations every two months.

David Turnbull of the Edmonton Arts Council said participation in the exhibit has led to commissions for the emerging artists in the past. “When you’ve got artwork in the public realm, it’s completely accessible for everyone to see and experience your artwork,” he said.
(L: Loneliness R: Joy)
In the News :: Year Three of #YEGCanvas
by Fish Griwkowsky
Publication: Edmonton Journal

On a scale like no other initiative, #YEGCanvas unleashes local artworks into Edmonton, shifting the city’s least-green months into an open-air art gallery.

This, its third year, adds 45 new pieces by 43 local artists to billboards and LRT station ad spaces over the next six months. The first round of this year’s three rotations went up this week.

The transitory public art project spans painting, fibre art, digital media, ceramics, photography — each with the artist’s name in a little box in the corner. For many, it’s their first public installation, a useful step to getting larger commissions down the road.


YEGArts Blog :: Planning Our Next 10 Years

The Edmonton Arts Council (EAC), on behalf of the City of Edmonton, is preparing to undertake Edmonton’s next comprehensive Arts & Heritage Plan 2019-2029 (working title). The new arts and heritage plan will guide and strengthen the City of Edmonton’s planning, investment and support ongoing development of the arts and heritage sectors. The 10-year plan will be unique to Edmonton; contain clear recommendations to further develop our arts and heritage sectors; and provide strong guidelines that will infuse the arts into every aspect of our civic landscape.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the next 10-Year Arts & Heritage Plan closed in September 2017. Submissions were received from across the country, including consultants from Abottsford, Calgary, Edmonton, Kingston, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The EAC put together a consortium from the highly-qualified submissions, with each consultant bringing considerable expertise and experience. Three consultant groups were chosen to form the Arts & Heritage Plan consortium who will work in unison to complete the four components outlined in the RFP. The Arts & Heritage Plan consortium is:

  • A. Adair & Associates Consulting Inc. (Kingston) for Component 1: Research framework and potential best practices in outcome-based investing.
  • Calder Bateman (Edmonton) for Components 2 & 4: Delivery of the consultation and media and promotion plan. Calder Bateman will also assume the contract to write and design the plan. 
  • Purple Aspen (Edmonton) for Component 3: Gaps and opportunities in heritage programs and services.
 
Copyright © *2017 Edmonton Arts Council, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
publicart@edmontonpublicart.ca

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