Public Art in Calgary – Open Spaces: Windows to a View

Michelle Mak Community, Daily Life, Fun Facts

Open Spaces: Windows to a view is part of the Public Art Program from the City of Calgary. They are committed to acquiring great public art that impacts Calgary’s urban landscape and transforms the way Calgarians see, think, and experience the city around them.

Open Spaces: Windows to a view is a program that offers local and regional artists an opportunity to showcase their art in a highly visible downtown location while working with a professional guest curator. The program, which began in 2009, celebrates the diversity and quality of works by regional artists, while enlivening the Centre Street LRT platform on 7 Avenue between 1 Street S.E. and Centre Street.

Currently, the space is showcasing art from artist Alana Bartol. The exhibition shows photos of a public art project titled Essential Oils (for Alberta). In this project, she explored plants found in the Hillhurst Sunnyside and West Downtown communities through enfleurage which is a process used to extract fragrances or essential oils from plants and botanical materials.”
On August 15, 2020 from 2 to 4 p.m., you can join artist Alana Bartol and herbalist, botanist, and educator Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed, owner of Latifa’s Herbs and co-owner of ALCLA Native Plants for a downtown plant walk exploring plants that are often overlooked in urban spaces in Mohkinstsis (Calgary). During then, you will be able to identify plants (some considered weeds), using principals of botany and learn about the edible and medicinal properties of plants. To register, please email hello@alanabartol.com. Registration will be limited to 15 people, but additional dates will be added depending on interest.

For more information, please visit https://www.calgary.ca/csps/recreation/public-art/open-spaces.html

Photo taken from City of Calgary