Calgary’s Centre City bridges shine with new banners celebrating the work of a local artist

Seven bridges in and around the city’s core will be adorned with a new series of banners featuring visual representations of the realities of local First Nation’s life. The series showcases the art of Canadian artist, Wil Yee whose work points out that the stories from our history can also be a visual reminder of the transformative realities we all experience like birth, change, adversity and even death.

 

“As I read about the First Nation’s people and learned more about their oral history, I found I appreciated their respect for the commonality we all share with nature and the local wildlife around Calgary. This helped me create the banners because I could use color, natural light and the power within these stories to create vibrations that I think reflect an energy that highlights the realities of life that we all share,” said Yee.

 

The new banners are part of the Centre City Banner Program that began in 2008.  This program engages local artists to provide artwork specifically for exhibition as banners.  Banners are replaced annually with a new look and story to welcome people to the downtown area.

 

The banner program is funded through both the Downtown Improvement Fund and the Public Art Program, and is managed by The City of Calgary’s Land Use Planning & Policy, Centre City Planning  & Implementation team.

 

“The goal is to create a rich experience for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the Centre City. They're able to get a feel for what makes Calgary a great city through the unique and powerful work of our local artists,” says Graham Gerylo, Project Manager, Centre City Planning & Implementation at The City.  “It is amazing how the banners transform the gateways into downtown and animate the urban landscape.”

 

For this series of banner images, Yee used vibrant colours to illustrate the powerful transformative themes of nature using local wildlife to visually represent the realities of life on Calgary’s rich landscape.

 

Throughout August, Yee's banners will be installed in Olympic Plaza and gateway bridges leading into Centre City, which include the 14 Street, Louise (10 Street), Centre Street, Langevin (Edmonton Trail) and Zoo bridges. 

 

For photos and Yee's artist statement please visit CalgaryCityNews.com.