Gabriel Esteban Molina, The Way Forward, 2024, Digital rendering printed on vinyl

New Mural in the Youth Lounge at Millennium Place

The Way Forward was made in collaboration with students from Bev Facey High School’s photography 20/30 class. The students participated in two workshops to learn about photogrammetry; a technique using software to make 3D models with sequential photographs also known as structure from motion. The students were instructed in making 3D portraits and scans of objects and environments around the high school. The 3D models and textures the students generated were used as part of this artwork's composition.   

The Way Forward presents a scene blending natural imagery and man-made constructions swirling together. Chunks of land, vegetation, sky, and concrete are arranged in a way that plays with foreground and background, confusing the sense of depth. Amidst the churn, a group of people see a way through, brought together by the texture of distorted colours representing not only the fundamental elements of vision and perception, but also the building blocks that underpin everything in our universe. By seeking out and acknowledging our fundamental interrelatedness and interconnectedness we can find a way through the chaos.   

Gabriel Esteban Molina is a first-generation Canadian multidisciplinary artist of Chilean descent. Proficient with drawing at an early age, he graduated from the University of Alberta with a BFA: Fine Arts majoring in painting and sculpture. He went on to study at the Chelsea College of Arts in London, United Kingdom to focus on developing his experimental practice, graduating in 2015 with an MA: Fine Art (Merit). Gabriel lives and works in Edmonton, Canada. 

Location: Millennium Place, 2000 Premier Way (Youth Lounge) 

Bruno Canadien, Sweet Song, 2024, Acrylic mural

Celebrating Festival Place's 30th Anniversary

Sweet Song was created in honour of Festival Place’s 30th Anniversary year and celebrates the Indigenous hand drum as the leading instrument of round dances and Dene drum dances. In this painting we are viewing the drums as if we are the singers, and the colours and patterns are our voices merging with the reverberations of the drum, creating a good song to dance to. Florals, ribbons of colour, the circle, and the petal motif are common elements used in Canadien’s work to discuss his experiences of family, heritage, and the land. 

Bruno Canadien is a visual artist whose multidisciplinary practice investigates Indigenous presence, kinship, and relationality in the contemporary context, through painting, drawing, installation, walking/land art, public art, and digital arts. 

Canadien is a member of the Deh Gah Got’ı́é Dene First Nation of Zhati Kǫ́ę́, Denendeh, a Deh Cho Region member of the Dene Nation. He is currently based in Black Diamond, Alberta, gratefully grounding himself in the landscapes and traditional territories of the Siksikaitsitapi, Tsuut’ina and Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi nations. 

Location: Community Centre, 401 Festival Lane (Interior breezeway between Community Centre and County Hall) 

Harvey Nichol, The Echoes of Pasipo, 2024, Aerosol

One of Three New Murals Celebrating Festival Place's 30th Anniversary

Echoes of Pasipo is a vibrant new mural at Festival Place that captures a mythical encounter between a musician and Pasipo, the ancient Filipino god of music. This powerful piece of art resurrects the almost forgotten deity, celebrated in folklore yet absent in today’s cultural dialogues. The mural serves as a bridge, linking the past with the present by highlighting the eternal nature of music as a universal language that transcends time and cultural boundaries.  

The mural’s palette features a dynamic blend of teals, oranges, blues, and purples, with striking pink modern calligraphy that spells out "Pa, Si, Po" in the ancient Tagalog script known as baybayin. This script does not merely serve an aesthetic purpose; it is a poignant reminder of a rich cultural heritage that is at risk of being forgotten. Through "Echoes of Pasipo," I aim to weave these ancient symbols into the fabric of modern expression, ensuring they remain part of our collective memory and continue to inspire future generations. 

A multidisciplinary artist and a cultural activist, Harvey pursued a bachelor's in fine arts at Alberta University of the Arts, Majoring in Sculpture, (2020-2023). Born in Tondo, Metro Manila, Philippines, an urban slum district along the coast of Manila Bay, he was raised by his single mother, Joy. After completing high school, Harvey found himself amid an emerging art community in downtown Calgary, where he embarked on his career as a self-taught outsider artist. As he delved deeper into art, his interest in various art movements, such as Neo-Expressionism, Art Nouveau, Street Art, and Social Realism, became more apparent. His passion for comic books, futurism, folklore, and mythology also left a significant impact on him. He began combining these different genres to create his own style, which he coined 'Social-Folk Expressionism'.

Location: Festival Place, 100 Festival Way (sea can near the Peace Park) 

Alex Kwong, Celebrate, 2024, Aerosol

Celebrating Festival Place 30th Anniversary Murals 

This mural depicts closeup images of instruments being played a drum and a guitar. I view the performance of music to be a celebration of being within the human experience. Through music and performance art we build connections and understanding amongst one another. This mural aims to capture the importance of celebrating that together. 

Alex Kwong is a visual artist based in Calgary, Alberta. His representational work painted in the manner of realism is found on supports ranging from canvas to large-scale walls. Informed by his degree in Art History and penchant for travel, Alex’s practice is heavily influenced by historical movements and the study of cultures throughout time. Alex’s process consists of reflecting stories of individuals, groups, and places. By building connections with communities, he creates unique and authentic works that celebrate communities’ spirit, fabric, and members. 

Location: Festival Place, 100 Festival Way (sea can near the Peace Park) 

Brie Adkins, Prairie Portal, 2024, Acrylic and aerosol

New Public Art at Strathcona Public Services Yard (SPSY)

Brie Adkins created Prairie Portal so that folks could enjoy a mini escape as they move from one space to another. It uses stairs to invite viewers into the mural and beckons them to take a mental break from the everyday busyness in its vista. It also has regional flora and fauna breaking out of the frame and spilling a bit of wonder into our world. Sometimes we just need to know a portal to another world is just around the corner. 

Brie Adkins is an award winning artist and muralist with her most recent body of work spanning Alberta and Spain. Brie has been painting professionally since 2015 and in that time has hosted workshops, cultural events and propped up other women artists within her own gallery space. 

Roger Garcia, Familiar Friends, 2024, Digital illustration printed on wall vinyl

New Public Art at Strathcona Public Services Yard (SPSY)

As told by the artist, Roger Garcia, "Growing up, birds have always been a part of my life. This mural celebrates the everyday presence and guiding influence of common birds within our community, depicting them in flight as they navigate our shared urban spaces. By portraying these birds in unison all flying in the same direction, I wanted them to guide and connect with people on their daily journey to and from work."

Michelle Sylvestre, Temporal Nexus, 2024, Handmade ceramic mosaic

New Public Art at Strathcona Public Services Yard (SPSY)

The movement created by the placement of the handmade tiles and hand cut mirrors suggests a crucial moment or period that connects different times or events, potentially serving as a pivotal or influential juncture in the flow of time.

Karen Ho Fatt Lee, A Prairie Moment, 2024, 3D printed and cast porcelain tiles

New Public Art at Strathcona Public Services Yard (SPSY)

A prairie portal; a view through the clouds – a glimpse of Alberta distinguished by its mountains, vast open skies and fields. Colours of the morning and evening skies radiate over a textured landscape; mountains, snow drifts and windswept vegetation. A yellow border defines fields of gold. Repetition and symmetry alludes to the monotony of the prairies.