Street Art: Inglewood Flaneur Quickie
Recently I had an extra 20 minutes before meeting at THE NASH with Mike Kehoe (Fairfield Commercial) to chat about the future of independent retail and restaurants in Calgary, so I decided to wander to see what was new.
I was immediately struck by all of the street art I found. Some has been there for years, some new. Over the past few years, it has reached a critical mass that enhances Inglewood image as Calgary’s funky arts neighbourhood.
The newest addition are the painted concrete curb barriers to protect the new street patios along 9th Avenue SE. FYI: The painting of these barriers is not limited to Inglewood, they are everywhere in the City Centre. Kudos to the folks at Beltline Urban Mural Projects (BUMP) for heading up this initiative to brighten up Calgary’s urban streetscapes..
Here is a fun photo collage of my Inglewood street art flaneur quickie:
“Park Park” is a fun art installation that transforms a parking lot into huge colourful artwork.
Concrete replaces canvas for these colourful and playful paintings.
Inglewood residents also like to add some artistic touches to their homes.
It is easy to miss this artwork on the north side of the 1000 block of 9th Ave SE in new mixed-use building. It is titled “NIGHT WATCH” by Kyle Beal, 2012. I was intrigued by the accompanying statement “NIGHT WATCH considers the past and present of Inglewood, where community and commerce meet. Asking who looks out for whom, the work suggests many characters who inhabit and share this place, including the flaneur, the voyeur, wild life, wildlife and the nosy neighbour.”
A little further east on 9th Ave SE, the Alexandra Community Health Centre has added these four paintings to their facade.
Across the street, the entire “The New” building has become a canvas for art. If you wander to the back alley you will be rewarded with more murals.
And if you look up you will find this artwork on the balcony on backside of the Communo - Calgary Compound building.
I love the art window at the Atlantic Avenue Art Block, where the curators at the Esker Foundation Contemporary Art Gallery showcase the work of one of the artists on exhibit in the gallery. The installations are always thought provoking. Currently on view is Molly JF Caldwell’s “With One Hand Tied Behind My Back” a 30-foot long, cherry red and bubble-gum pink tapestry that floats in the space to create a lush, sensuous space that interacts with the street and architecture in mysterious ways.
If you wander inside the Atlantic Avenue Art Block you will discover a lobby that is like an art gallery with several paintings and sculptures. This is Ryan Sluggett’s painting “Males and Mirrors” (2014), from the collection of Jim & Susan Hill, who also own the building and fund the operations of the Esker Contemporary Art Gallery located on the top floor. It is one of Calgary’s hidden art gems.
Like Esker, the windows of the fashion boutique espy’s art installations.
While not art, the Crown Outdoor & Tactical store’s yard looks like a contemporary art installation.
Last Word
All of these artworks are found within a few blocks of each other. If you are looking for a fun urban place to wander, the streets and alleys next to Inglewood’s 9th Ave Main Street should be at the top of your list.
If you are a tourist visiting Calgary, Inglewood is definitely worth a visit with its historic Main Street, full of shops, cafes and restaurants and the residential streets full of heritage homes. it is the perfect place to wander.
I love how not only many of Calgary’s neighbourhoods are adding murals and other funky street art to make streets more pedestrians friendly, but it is happening in cities around the world.
If you like this blog, you will like these links:
Calgary: Northern Hills Mural Project