Recollections and Topiary: reflections on public art in Calgary
'It gives you that sense of homecoming. This is my stop. I know this place. This is the one that reflects me'
You walk on it, you pass by it and kids play on it.
Public art in Calgary has become part of our landscape.
But at the McKnight – Westwinds LRT station, it's also a reflection of the community's history, burned deep into the glass of the shelter itself.
The crystalline walls are inlaid with images of people's actual immigration papers, historical family photos and other donated items from the community and the Glenbow Archives.
Nenshi's favourite
The artwork happens to be one of Mayor Naheed Nenshi's favourite in the city.
"Every day when I'm at that station, I see people looking at this art, interacting with it, and understanding how it tells the story of the community," he said.
The art focuses on two main themes of the area's history — agriculture and immigration — and shares glimpses of people's settlement in the area.
"Literally, as you're coming and going from the station and from your community, you can see images of coming and going from the country," said Dawn Ford, public art co-ordinator with the city.
The ability for the community to see itself reflected in the public art and explore the shared sense of history makes the artwork particularly poignant, she said.
"It creates a greater sense of connection and ownership over the artwork, and a little bit of pride in what was created," Ford told The Homestretch.
Public art on public transit
The $308,000 project was designed by North Carolina artists Jim Hirschfield and Sonya Ishii, who specialize in art on public transit.
Ford said these transit stops are prime areas for public art because of their visibility and daily engagement with the community.
"Any time you see a historical photo, it gives you that wonderful sense of nostalgia, but then to know that these are real people that are a part of this community? That's wonderful," she said.
"It gives you that sense of homecoming. This is my stop. I know this place. This is the one that reflects me."
Creating a sense of place
The second component of the McKnight – Westwinds LRT station public art is the vibrant sculpture, known as the Topiary.
The theme of a shrub, shaped, pruned and nurtured by human touch, reflects the story of the land itself, she said.
"All of the pieces come together to talk about man touching nature, and our connection to this community," Ford said.
"You can't miss this place. When you pull up to it, and you find Topiary, and you see this bright coloured sculpture that stands out within the landscape, you know where you are," Ford said.
"A large function of public art is placemaking, and creating that sense of place. This has really done that for us."
With files from Susan Holzman and The Homestretch