Our Artwork
Polo III, 1982 - Graham Peacock
Graham Peacock had his studio upstairs in the original Kelly Ramsey building for over 30 years, from 1973 until 2005. This work was painted on the 2nd floor of what was formerly the front space of the Ramsey building overlooking Rice Howard Way. Polo III was painted in 1982, the year in which Peacock pioneered his paint crazing technique. The painting is an early example of his signature style and the beginning of his international showings with the New New Painting group.
Peacock’s work can be found in public and private collections throughout Canada, the United States and Europe including The Museum of Fine Art in Boston, The National Gallery, Prague, The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, The Museum of Modern Art, Vienna, the Art Gallery of Alberta, among others. See www.grahampeacock.com
Cloud House – Sean Caulfield
The carved freestanding sculpture consists of a number of carved panels brought together to create a small ‘house’ structure. Within the house are found sculptural forms (tree branches found near the North Saskatchewan River) that are partially revealed to viewers through window/opening in the larger structure. In creating this work, Caulfield is drawing on traditions of votive/devotional structures found in many cultures around the world. The work also has some strong connections to Royden Mills sculpture, Morning Bell, which also sits in the lobby.
Ultimately, in creating this piece, Caulfield hoped to create an evocative sculptural form that acts in dialogue with the existing architecture to encourage viewers to enter into a slower moment of contemplation. Given that Enbridge Centre is a busy commercial space, the potential of an artwork to function in this way seems particularly important, as it will contribute to a richer more diverse environment for those that use the building for both work and leisure. Moreover, the space under the stairs on the main floor is an ideal location for this sculpture given that viewers will happen upon the work unexpectedly, further encouraging them to enter into a moment of quiet reflection.
Morning Bell – Royden Mills
This Sculpture is about a beautiful tone that comes from a wonderful bell that is activated by the most simple mechanical leverage. Mills’ wish is that people be allowed to ring this bell as they wish to gather strength and courage to do their best on behalf of the many of us who serve the world in other ways. The Ceremony of focus and the collecting and the releasing of energy are released from one small moment of mechanical leverage. The consequences affect the entire room, and the sound waves roll out clear and true like ripples in a still pond.
Royden Mills teaches contemporary and figurative sculpture, drawing and intermedia, and art fundamentals. During his many years of teaching in the Department of Art & Design at the U of A, he has coordinated all 32 sections of art and design fundamentals, while also maintaining a very strong professional studio practice. In 2014 he won the William Hardy Alexander Teaching Award and the Faculty of Arts Teaching Award.
Web of Life – Marc Siegner
Constructed from rice bags to create hand sewn t-shirts, repeated and joined to create two large pieces of fabric hung as a curtain. There are 144 t-shirts total in the piece.
Light Play – Lynn Malin
Light Play will serve as a prelude to the second level entrance of Enbridge Centre. It illuminates the wall with colour designs, patterns and abstract gestures.
The images on the 6 modules are inspired by light found in art deco interiors. They reflect black and gold within the art deco, with the joyful marks and gestures of nature combined with the grids and patterns indicating humans desire to order and control the environment.
From a distance, the Light Play modules will appear as bright, energetic and welcoming. Approached, the variations and details within each module will become more evident as they change and glow with the interplay of light, both natural and artificial.
The use of bright colour patterns, repetitive design elements and translucence will evoke and transform the Art Deco past to the restored, enhanced iconic Kelly and Ramsey buildings into the beautiful Enbridge Centre.
Rotating Art Wall
The second floor of Enbridge Centre features a rotating art wall, showcasing different local artists approximately every six weeks.