Skip to main content

Public art exhibit uses Stephen Avenue tree sculptures as a canvas

Novus Texturea uses four kilometres of ribbon and eight kilometres of thread to wrap Stephen Avenue's Galleria Trees with colours. Novus Texturea uses four kilometres of ribbon and eight kilometres of thread to wrap Stephen Avenue's Galleria Trees with colours.
Share

There's a colourful new art installation along Stephen Avenue for Calgarians to enjoy.

The piece, called Novus Texturea, consists of fabric ribbons weaved through an existing art installation in the downtown area, the Galleria Trees.

Novus utilizes more than four kilometres of straps, eight kilometres of threads and took more than 400 hours to put together.

Gordon Skilling and Jolie Bird created Novus and say everyone who sees it will experience something different.

"I want people to question their surroundings," Skilling told CTV News in an interview on Monday. "It's an aesthetic experience but then they can go deeper if they want to in questioning the urban environment.

"What are we doing as a city? What direction are we moving to?"

Mark Garner with the Calgary Downtown Association says public art helps with the revitalization of the area.

"It really is making this a backdrop for the mall. We want people to come back to Stephen Ave., see the installation and support the local businesses and reconnect with downtown Calgary after the pandemic."

Funding for Novus came from the federal government's Canada Community Revitalization Fund.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public

Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks.

Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog

WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.

Stay Connected