#yegarena

[spookymagoo]

#Repost @rogersplace ・・・ Thank you to @brunomars & the #24kMagicWorldTour for TWO unbelievable nights! #RogersPlace #yegconcerts #yegmusic #yegarena #yegdt #yeg

[spookymagoo]

#Repost @rogersplace ・・・ Night two of the #24kMagicWorldTour is 100% smoother than a fresh jar of skippy! #RogersPlace #yegconcerts #yegarena #yegmusic #yegdt #yeg

[spookymagoo]

Morning world ..#Repost @rogersplace ・・・ Nothing but good times at night one of the #24kMagicWorldTour! #BrunoMars #RogersPlace #yegmusic #yegconcerts #yegarena #yegdt #yeg

[yegarts]

Fitting Essential Tree together. The treetop hovers over the trunk as our installation crew works to weld both sculptural elements together. Thanks to Christopher Gramer from realities:united & Patrick Skogman from @heavyindustries.ca and the rest of the install crew! @rogersplace #yegpublicart #yegarts #yegarena #yegdt (at ROGERS PLACE)

[yegarts]

Captured before the sun disappeared - Essential Tree by realities:united @rogersplace heads into the final stages of completion. Stop by tomorrow to see it airborne as the installers weld the top to the trunk! #yegpublicart #yegarts #yegdt #yegarena (at ROGERS PLACE)

[yegarts]

Unveiling Iron Foot Place

Family and history are at the heart of Tsa Tsa Ke K’e – Iron Foot Place, Alex Janvier’s lush mosaic that now graces the floor of Ford Hall in Edmonton’s Rogers Place Arena. As he spoke, Mr. Janvier led his audience back into the boardwalked Edmonton of 65 years ago, when, as a young teenager he walked along 104 avenue with $25 in his pocket. The money came from his first exhibits and jobs in Calgary, and he translated that income into his first set of oil paints, purchased at the venerable Edmonton stationers’ Wilson. Then, as now, he says, Edmonton was in the throes of road construction – a sign that we’re always rebuilding; moving forward.

Tsa Tsa Ke K’e hovers above that old stomping ground, and further, in paying tribute and respect to the territory upon which Edmonton sits, reflects upon shared yet troubled histories, shared journeys, and hope for a respectful, shared future. “All roads lead to the area, Edmonton, as it is a central destiny for all who came before, and who came after.”

The unveiling by the Grade 4&5 classes from Kensington school carried this message forward. Pointing to the dusty black cloths covering the artwork, emcee and friend of the Janvier family, Guy Freedman, explained that black is not a colour used very much in Indigenous culture. “For us it is a reminder of darkness, of the Black Robe, of the black car.” As the children drew the cloths away, the mosaic, in all its myriad hues seemed to shimmer in the cloudy morning light. The unveiling, which embraced prayer, song, and reflection, alongside corporate messaging, culminated in a round dance led by the children. As the circle danced around the mosaic, it continually expanded to include the entire audience from Grand Chief Randy Ermineskin and Mayor Don Iveson, to the Janvier family, media, and members of the public who were drawn in by curiosity about the arena but were entranced by the artwork.

By the numbers alone, Tsa Tsa Ke K’e is impressive. Measuring 14 metres in diameter, and covering a 154 m2 space in Ford Hall, it weighs more than 3,500lbs, is composed of nearly 1-million byzantine glass smalti tiles, and took a team of 20 artist fabricators working fulltime at Mosaika Art Glass nearly six months to complete. The installation took one month, and the mosaic is fitted within a floor depression created specifically for it.

It is, as EAC Executive Director Sanjay Shahani pointed out, one of the most anticipated artworks to arrive in Edmonton, due in part to the stature of Alex Janvier as an internationally acclaimed artist. Its placement in the heart of downtown Edmonton’s arena  is striking “Placing this powerful Indigenous voice at the heart of Rogers Place transforms the space with a spirit that will enrich, inspire, and provoke those who visit.”

[yegarts]

A Round Dance celebrating the spirit of Tsa Tsa Ke K'e @rogersplace #alexjanvier #yegarena #yegarts (at ROGERS PLACE)

[yegarts]

Public Art Installation at @rogersplace - Artist Douglas Bentham with his sculpture Skaters’ Arch, created for the North East corner of Rogers Place. The sculpture is inspired by the dynamics of ice-skating – the flowing lines as the skate blade pushes through the ice. Its frame-like form creates a welcoming symbol for the Community Rink and encourages passersby to embrace it as a meeting place and dramatic backdrop for photos, selfies and other casual activities. #yegarts #yegpublicart #yegarena #rogersplace (at ROGERS PLACE)