Arts & Culture
Public Art: A SENSE OF PLACE - Make a start on public art
June, 2016
| It’s no secret: art is a fundamental part of our city’s narrative. Not only does it beautify our public spaces, it tells the story of our history and of the people who have shaped it. St. Albert has been commissioning and collecting public art since the 1970s, and today, more than 250 pieces make up the City’s collection. From murals and sculptures to fountains and benches, here are a few to take note of when strolling the city. Take a look. |
St. Albert Place
| The bronze sculptures and statues in the front plaza of St. Albert Place are probably the most well-known and loved pieces of public art in the city. Hide & Seek, the whimsical sculpture of a little boy and his leashed dog tangled around a bench, is St. Albert’s first Art in Public Spaces artwork (1994), designed to make people smile. In fact, the piece is so popular that the hair-like texture on the dog’s back is smoothing out from all the pats he gets from fascinated children. Internationally renowned artist Barbara Paterson created this as well as The Famous Five (in Calgary and Ottawa), which was featured on Canada’s previous $50 bill. |
The newer statue on the plaza, Legacy of Love & Learning, is a tribute to one of our most-known and beloved citizens: Lois Hole. The statue depicts Hole (gardener, author and Alberta’s 15th Lieutenant Governor) with a little girl who is clutching a book. Paterson, a long-time friend of Hole, said she wanted to create a tribute that showed her friend’s love of children and learning. And as with most of the artist’s sculptures, a dog makes an appearance in this one, too—the little girl’s ponytails are dog-shaped. The statue will eventually be moved to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
Celebration Garden
| The artworks in Celebration Garden are diverse, beautiful and functional—a bench, fountain and gazebo among them. The most recent sculpture, titled Millie Seitz, Volunteer Appreciation, arrived in 2011 as a tribute to the volunteer community and to commemorate St. Albert’s 150th anniversary. Seitz dedicated much of her life to volunteering in St. Albert, and she was pivotal in leading the Garden’s development. |
The other artworks in the Garden were donated to mark the International Year of Older Persons and are an example of how some public art comes to exist in the City—via community organizations and individuals.
Red Willow Trail
(North Promenade)
| Artist Stewart Steinhauer always wanted one or more of his five granite sculptures to be placed near St. Albert Place, and his wish came true when the City bought the collection in 2010. Each sculpture references -stories passed down by the people of St. Albert before settlers arrived. Look for Mother Bear Prays for Earth Healing, Mother Earth Circling Buffalo, Buffalo Mountain, Star Woman and Red Thunder’s Gift. |
| The City, together with its Public Art Advisory Committee, is looking to expand its public art collection and to move it beyond the downtown to parks and recreation facilities. Whether downtown or enjoying one of the city neighbourhoods, residents are invited to celebrate the art wherever they find it. t8n |
Did You Know?
Since outdoor public art has to withstand the Alberta elements year‑round, the City is developing new techniques for sustaining and extending the life of our outdoor murals. They include using changeable framing systems, water diversion and updated printing techniques.
The City funds art in public spaces through its Percent for Art policy,
where 1% of the cost of eligible capital projects is retained for the
purchase of public art.
Art isn’t always at eye level, evidenced by the Healthy Communities mural that hangs above San Remo restaurant on Perron Street. The acrylic on panel mural by artist Bella Totino-Busby’s was commissioned to highlight various aspects of healthy living. Despite being 17 years old (2 years past its expected lifespan), it remains in excellent condition.
Welcoming passersby along St. Thomas Street, Blooms Bench is artist Karen Ho Fatt’s colourful nod to our flower-focused burg. A favourite spot for photo ops, the bench is an icon in the downtown landscape.
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