Find it on Fourth: Street Art Edition
Did you know Calgary is home to the world’s tallest mural?
The Beltline-based abstract art piece stands at a massive 310 feet, adding bright bursts of orange and blue to the city’s skyline… even if we don’t always think to look upwards and see the beauty as it graces our skyline.
No matter where you stand on the Alberta referendum, there’s no denying our province is jam-packed with incredible art, from street graffiti and wall art to murals and three-dimensional art installations.
So, whether you’re a fan of Marlow Floralworks cuddling frogs or more keen on the crow-centric installation outside Shelf Life Books, here’s some of the breathtaking art you can enjoy the next time you traipse through Fourth Street.
‘Hand Signals’ by Derek Michael Besant
Comprised of six hand gestures pointing towards the street, the hand group together to sign ‘DREAMS’ in ASL (American Sign Language).
The installation was created by Canadian artist Derek Michael, who traditionally uses the bods as a metaphor to convey themes of memory and language. Michael is also responsible for the creation of a 115-foot waterfall in the heart of Toronto’s bustling Banking District, so if you’ve seen it you’ve witnessed a unique link between The Big Smoke and Cowtown.
You can catch a glimpse of ‘Hand Signals’ outside K&W Audio - just a stone-throw away from Kept Clothing Collective, Elephant & Castle and Red’s Diner.
‘Shimmering Aspen’ by Bill Johnston
A stainless steel lollipop tree (which apparently is a tree which has been directly manipulated into a particular shape) graces the region by Pho Daddy, Missy’s This That, Mission Barbershop and I Love You Coffee Shop.
It was crafted in a strange and meticulous way in order to allow the upper section to move in the wind, while the lower section stays steadfast.
The mind behind ‘Shimmering Aspen’, Bill Johnston, is a native Albertan whose experience in architecture - paired with his upbringing by teachers of the fine arts - informed his innovative approach to the visual craft.
‘Hanging Out’ by Peter Smith
Ever seen a ten-foot frog before? Well, if you’ve meandered around Marlow Floralworks (near Unicorn on 4th, Frilly Lilly and 4th Street Pizza) you’ll see these two gigantic amphibians handing out on a steel bench.
Fear not - they’re made of hand-welded steel and sheet metal by Peter Smith, who studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design where he received the Fourth year graduates award in 1972.
Speaking of the installation, he explained: “I have often used frogs metaphorically; In this piece, the frogs are simply hanging out. Because of their size, they are able to dominate a frog/human interaction – who is watching whom?!
“However, these amphibians are friendly; they may even make room on the bench for a stranger to shoot the breeze,” he concluded.
‘Angel Heart’ by Errol Lee Fullen
Located just outside UltraWhite Clinic - right between Hana Sushi, Q&P Cleaners and Kinto Ramen - is a 14-feet pair of angel wings with an eight-foot wingspan made of solid steel and finished with copper.
Positioned on a three-foot base, the installation features aluminium chimes which reach a full-octave scale in just the right conditions.
Errol Lee Fullen completed this ambitious endeavour more than three decades ago in 1993. Speaking of the work, Fullen said: “I chose to employ sound as I felt it to be the most abstract and lyrical of the arts.”
The Camrose Albertan - who later moved to Calgary, where they studied painting, printmaking and drawing at the University of Calgary and the Alberta College of Art - added: “I wished to create a sculpture that would work with the wind to create an anthem to the uplifting quality of the human spirit.”
‘Starting Fourth’ by Garry Jones
You’d be forgiven for thinking this piece - which is situated on the intersection of 17th Avenue and Fourth Street, by Ollie Quinn, Duer, Pin Bar and Second Cup Coffee - was a play on The Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album artwork.
However, the seven-person piece depicts a crowd moving in the same direction with purpose. Though all move in slightly different manners, their face of fibreglass and faux bronze was crafted by Garry Jones in 1995 to show ‘all people are cut from the same mold’.
Jones, who graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta with his BFA, currently owns and manages a small company specializing in the development of commissioned artwork for corporate and institutional clients
‘Counting Crows’ by Evelyn Grant
Since the emergence of a friendly-yet-outcasted ogre called Shrek way back in 2001, most people hear ‘Counting Crows’ and think of the hit song Accidentally In Love by a band of the same name, which featured in the Shrek soundtrack.
What most people may not know, however, is that ‘Counting Crows’ was a traditional English rhyme which predicted the observer’s fortune based on how many crows they could see at one time. While one crow would be an emblem of death, two could bring change for the better and twelve could bring about absolute ‘fulfilment’, whatever that may mean to the observer.
This installation is laid-out in a circular fashion, with the sun (which is depicted adorning the Coney Island Amusement Park logo), the eight of hearts (symbolising happiness) the nine of clubs (gaiety, or excitement) a new moon (new beginnings) and fingers pointing the crows to really emphasise the counting element of this interactive installation.
It’s the brainchild of Evelyn Grant, a graduate of both the University of Calgary, and Alberta College who has been a patron of the arts since 1976. You can find ‘Counting Crows’ by Shelf Life Books and Park by Sidewalk Citizen.
Did we miss any of your favourite art pieces on Fourth? Let us know via our instagram (@4thstreetclagary) and we’ll be sure to add them to our content!
