Sien Lok Park (5)

 On the 7th of February 2021 we visited the Sien Lok Park in downtown, but that day it was too cold and we barely managed taking some photos and walk a bit. 

Our face, hands and feet were hurting with the cold and it was hard even to breathe. 

This beautiful sculpture of a wolf is not part of the park but you can see it right beside at the entrance of a condo buildings area.

Arthur and I both agreed that we should go back again, another day, and place a proper visit to Sien Lok Park when temperatures would be more bearable.

So we did it again on the 21st of March  and you can find more about it in the next post.

Cheers!

Marina & Arthur <3

Sien Lok Park (5) - part 2

On March 21st the temperature in Calgary was on the positive range which encouraged us to go back to Sien Lok Park located on the south Bow River Pathway in Chinatown Calgary. Although a small park, Sien Lok hosts sculptures, gazebo, playground and picnique area, and also teaches us a bit about the Chinese immigration to Canada. 

The park is divided by a street. In one of its sides you see two chinese lions guarding its main entrance. 

As we walked  through we found a marble sculpture with beautiful details in bronze. It is called  "Wall of Names" and was created by Ferdinand Spina with the purpose of recognize Chinese pioneers. 

 

"Those who came beforeplanted the trees, so that future generations can enjoy the shade"

Still at the same side of the park we can see a beautiful art work, "In Search of Gold Mountain", a yellow granite monument sculptured by Chu Honsun that narrates the history of chinese people in Canada. 

Arthur and I were checking on the details of the carvings trying to understand the chinese movement through time and space represented in the sculpture. We were able to identify in the bottom ring that the first settlers who arrived in Canada on boats were endured by hard labour work. We also could see that as time passes a new generation of chinese immigrants is shown as having better paid jobs.

 

Walking between James Short Park and Olympic Plaza

On January 17, 2021 we visited two of Calgary downtown's parks, James Short and Olympic Plaza. On our walk from one to another and back to the car we observed many different forms of art, and once again were amazed by that.

At the back of the Bow Building there is this beautiful sculpture in bronze called "Alberta's Dream" and nicknamed the Tree Hugger. It is a self portrait of Spanish artist Juame Plensa in which he is holding a living tree. Its body is covered with the names of some Alberta's cities. 

Here....we were having fun taking selfies showing The Bow....

...and taking photos of the "Wonderland" another Juame Plensa's sculpture.

Just in front of "The Head", on the other side of the street, there is nice fence that its design beautifully contrastes with the buildings and with the Calgary tower on the background.

Our eyes were also cached by....

..... and finally we took some selfies with the beloved Calgary Tower....did not work well! ;))

Walking a bit more, right by the Olympic Plaza we found The Famous Five, a bronze monument created by Barbara Paterson to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the accomplishments of the women's -right act. 

On our way back to the car we passed in front of the "Transit Story", artwork created by Jill Anholt  that depicts different views of people at the C-train station.  As you move around the "people" you see different colours and image definition. It reminded us some Optical Illusions that we lke so much. 

I Arthur liked...

I typically think, Its a type of optical illusion! when you look on one side its one color, on the other side its a different color!

Once again we loved our little tour in between two of Calgary's parks in downtown. 

We can't wait for the next discoveries!

Cheers!

Marina & Arthur <3

Olympic Plaza (4)

In January 17, 2021 we visited the Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary. We have been in this plaza many times before in different seasons and events, but this day our mind setting was into looking for details and the little things that usually pass invisible. 

The plaza was built for the 1988's Olympic Winter Games and it was the place where the medals were given. Nowadays the plaza is used for different events during the year. 

In the winter its center area is transformed into an ice skate rink where anyone can use for free. 

We also found lots of gophers (ground squirrels?) in so many different colours! ;) in a brick wall.

The colorful gophers are part of an installation to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. 

In 2010 those same gophers (but all in pink) - designed by Kristina Meehan-Prins were installed in the Olympic Plaza to celebrate Calgary's Parks's 100th anniversary. 

In one of the corners of the Plaza we found an orange installation of tubes. We noticed that they were arranged in different sets, each set with tubes of more or less the same height. We also noticed that each set represents a decade from 1910 to 2010 and each tube has a name of a Calgary park. 

We wondered if all those tubes are representing all parks in Calgary....

We found later that the installation is called The Centennial Grove and also was created to celebrate the 100 years of Calgary's Parks in 2010.  Each tube represents a trunk of a tree and the entire installation symbolizes 100 aspen trees nestled in grassland. 

Looking down..... we discovered that we were walking on special bricks!

When we realized that, we stopped, and started reading the bricks. 

Most of them have people's names inscribed on, but some have messages. 

We had some fun trying to find messages and our names. 

We found Alice and Arthur and some love messages...

Later on, while preparing this post we found more interesting things about this special sidewalk. In 1987 when Olympic Plaza was under construction Calgarians could pay around $20 and get something written into a brick to be lined on the ground of the park. Here there is a map of all the brick area. There is also a website where you can search for your brick - in case you got one at that time or.....just as us, moved by curiosity, search for ...  whatever! 

We were curious about our names. How many of them would we find? 42 Alice, 37 Arthur and only 4 Marina! 

And some other stuff...

And, of course, as a beer lover I (Marina ;)))) decided to search for the word beer, not really expecting to get any interesting result, but...look what I found!  

Now we feel like we have to go to Olympic Plaza again and using the app finder look for some of those funny or interesting bricks! 

I Arthur liked...

The big tree decorated in Christmas lights! And the funny silly names on the tiled floor! Even though not all the names are silly, some are and that's what i like! (:

At the City of Calgary you can find more information about Olympic Plaza .

Cheers!

Marina & Arthur <3

James Short Park (3)

In the chilly evening of January 17, 2021 we drove to downtown Calgary with the intention of visiting three of its parks. We ended up checking only two of them. Our start point was James Short Park, three blocks away from the second park we visited, The Olympic Plaza.

James Short Park is a small green area in the heart of downtown Calgary with many benches to sit, a cupola with a clock and a small playground at the back. During the winter there is no much to do there. 

We walked around investigating everything and taking photos. At the very back of the park we found a sculpture called The Past, Present and Future by Gernot Kiefer.

The sculpture was "calling us" for silly photos! 

We did not know while at the park that the sculpture represents the progression of people through time, but I guess that Arthur had "the feeling" of it (check out his edition on the photo!) 

... Perhaps it is the Black Hole that takes us to the future (or to the past?)! 

I, Arthur liked the clock tower and its lights! and that's it!.)

At the City of Calgary you can find more information about James Short Park and here you find

a bit more about the sculpture The Past, Present and Future by Gernot Kiefer.

We had so much fun taking silly photos that we almost forgot that we still had another park to visit....but this is story for another post.

Cheers!

<3 Marina & Arthur

Walking around Barb Scott Park

On January 10th, 2021 we visited Barb Scott Park (post here) and ended up walking a few blocks around the area for a warm drink and to make time until dusk. During this short walk our eyes caught many different forms of art and beauty. We decided that this could not pass in blank, so we took pics of them, and, of course, we want to share them with the world! ;)

Few steps from Barb Scott Park we saw two new buildings with those big panels painted in the wall. 

What a nice surprise!

We were amazed that in such small area in downtown Calgary we could find so many appealing and interesting forms of art.

I, Arthur liked.... the wall paintings!

Again we enjoyed so much our exploration.

We had a great time together taking photos, videotaping and connecting with each other.

We can't wait for the next week's adventure!

Cheers!
Marina & Arthur <3