14
Installation
2014–2015
Utility Boxes
Seven utility boxes for the City of Calgary, each shaped by stories gathered from the community around it.
Discipline
Installation
Deliverable
Public art, community outreach
Year
2014–2015
Role
Artist, community outreach
The project
Public art for the City of Calgary’s Utility Box program, which began in 2010 as a way to deter graffiti and has grown to more than 140 artworks across the city. For each box I met with the community first, gathering stories and input that shaped the artwork.
2014
Bankview. Historic Journey pays tribute to the community’s ranch-land history. Winds of Change looks ahead, with movement, freedom and clean air blowing into Bankview’s hills. Residents wrote their thoughts on a wall at a Stampede pancake breakfast, and I interviewed long-time residents and local politicians.
Glenbrook. Garden Spun turns the milk can of the neighbourhood’s old door-to-door milkman into a secret garden. Coyote Wild follows the pack of coyotes that roamed the area.
2015
Southwood. Rhubarb Whispers: like rhubarb hiding its stems under big leaves, Southwood keeps its character tucked away from Elbow Drive. Many residents grow rhubarb, and the community holds an annual rhubarb festival.
Harvest Hills. Feeding Curiosity plays on the name: hills that support many animals, people included.
Country Hills. In a Dream reflects the range of feedback from the community: many different people, and room to grow.
Commissioned by the City of Calgary. Program managers: Randy Niessen (2014) and Sophie-Anne Belisle (2015).