Novus Textura: Reweaving the Urban Fabric

June 13, 2023 | WHAT'S HAPPENING, EVENTS, CALGARY

A new vibrant installation was unveiled earlier this month on Stephen Ave!

On June 5, 2023, the Calgary Downtown Association unveiled a colourful new fibre-art installation, crafted by local artists Gordon Skilling and Jolie Bird. This installation, named “Novus Textura” beautifully intertwines with the strong roots of the existing Galleria Trees installation. Novus Textura serves as a symbol of Calgary's rich heritage of ingenuity and perseverance, beautifully expressed through the power of collaboration. From Novus Textura’s website, the artists describe the piece as “A fun and playful way of representing new directions in the ongoing development of Calgary. Novus Textura represents Calgary's history of innovation and resiliency through the lens of collaboration, bringing together a team of artists, designers, engineers and fabricators in expressing an artistic vision.” Bird Creatives was thrilled to help organize this event and to support local public art!

About the artists (from the Novus Textura website):

Jolie Bird

Jolie Bird is a Calgary artist and is employed at Alberta University of the Arts (AU Arts) as the Educational Art Technician for the Fibre Program.

Her research explores visual and conceptual contrasts that arise through simple yet laborious techniques, focusing on transforming ordinary objects into non-functional precious works of art. Novus Textura is her largest installation to date.

Gordon Skilling

Gordon Skilling is a Calgary artist and designer with an education in landscape architecture and environmental design.

Gordon is interested in understanding and representing the complex relationship between humans and their environment. Whenever possible, site, community, city, and regional contexts are investigated and combined with local history, culture, climate, and geography in formulating an overarching concept that will define a work’s structural foundation and inspire material form.

The launch event brought together Calgary municipal and arts leaders featuring:

A poem reading from Calgary’s Poet Laureate, Wakefield Brewster

Opening remarks and ongoing introductions from Calgary Downtown Association Executive Director, Mark Garner

Land acknowledgement and message on the value of art from Calgary Arts Development President and CEO, Patti Pon

Description of Novus Textura and acknowledgement of the artists from Art and the City President, Yves Trepanier

Remarks on why developers invest in public art from Brookfield Properties Western Canadian Regional Head, Damon Formos

Remarks on the importance of public art and the growth of Calgary from Mayor Jyoti Gondek

Music for the event was provided by Solatido, a Calgary-based string duo that mixes classical and contemporary pop music.

We encourage everyone to check out the Novus Textura installation the next time they’re on Stephen Avenue! The installation will stay up for the next two years.