Confluence: Merging sky, land, and water

The Valley Line Southeast LRT project is adding a splash of colour and texture to communities along the route thanks to the City’s Public Art Policy, managed by the Edmonton Arts Council. 

The Valley Line Southeast LRT project public art collection includes art glass, sculptures, a mosaic and a series of paintings. Additional opportunities for artists to get involved in the Valley Line Public Art are yet to be announced. 

Individual artists, organizations and collectives sent in 260 submissions for the public art opportunities along the 13-km LRT route. Each submission was reviewed by selection committees made up of community members, local artist representatives, project personnel and City of Edmonton staff. The commissions were awarded to four Edmonton-based artists, three Alberta-based artists, one international artist, one Indigenous artist team and one Métis artist.

One of the latest additions to the Valley Line Southeast LRT public art collection is turning heads along 83 Street near Argyll Road. Two 45.5‑metre-long mosaics adorn either side of the concrete ramp that will carry passengers up onto the elevated guideway and into Davies Station. These mosaics were created by local Edmonton artist Erin Pankratz of Red Knot Studio. Amongst more than 60 submissions from all over the world, Erin’s credentials and connection to the area helped her to stand out from the other artists applying to the Davies Ramp International Public Art call to artists. Titled Confluence, these abstract works are organically shaped and offer a burst of colour to evoke the visual merging of Edmonton’s sky, land, and water.

As a full-time visual artist, Erin uses materials like glass and tile to develop art that is colourful, playful, engaging, and creates a sense of movement. We met with Erin virtually to learn more about Confluence and her experiences as an artist in Edmonton.

Born in the Northwest Territories, Erin had a great opportunity to draw inspiration from nature, especially the boreal forest and the northern lights. She used to dig up fossils and play in creeks and rivers in Fort Smith before moving to Edmonton at the age of 10. 

This love of nature continued — Erin’s inspiration for Confluence was the flow of the Mill Creek Ravine. Erin uses cloud-like shapes to depict the path of the ravine and to recreate the meandering path of the creek.

Erin titled the work Confluence to capture the organic and merging elements of the two mosaics. She explained that the word ​“confluence” has two meanings — the act of merging and the point where two rivers meet to become one. Erin seeks to bring back the natural connection between the Mill Creek Ravine and the North Saskatchewan River in this large-scale work.

This enchanting piece took five years to create, including developing the design and fabrication method, making the boards and mosaic, and completing the installation. Seeing all the tiles put up together on the boards was surely one of the most satisfying parts of the project. Due to its length, the first time anyone saw it all together was when it was installed! 

Each mosaic is 45.5 metres long with waves that range from 4 feet tall to 6 inches tall. A hidden anchoring system ensures the mosaics appear to float on the large concrete walls.

Confluence was handcrafted from start to finish. The hand-cut tiles were placed by hand onto 74 handmade boards to create a flowing andamento. Andamento is the visual flow created by the tiles arranged in rows throughout the mosaic. Each of the mosaic boards that make up the two sides were grouted with epoxy grout. It was important to make sure the mosaics could withstand the elements and fluctuating temperatures in Edmonton.

Installation by hand brings life and warmth to the piece. ​“It’s all handmade so it’s not perfect, but I didn’t want it to be perfect because there is so much beauty in that variability,” Erin explained.

The mosaics on either side of the ramp flaunt beautiful gradients of spectral hues. The tiles used in Confluence came from the United States, Portugal, and Japan. 

The southbound side displays blues of the sky and the North Saskatchewan River, greens of the luscious Aspen Parkland, and yellows of a sunny spring day in Edmonton. Erin added, ​“We have a gorgeous river valley and parkland in Edmonton, and that’s the inspiration for the first side.”

The northbound side shows pinks and oranges of Edmonton’s beautiful sunrises and sunsets, as well as autumnal hues capturing the colours of fall leaves. On this second side, Erin displays the range of warm colours reflected in the river.

“I think it’s a joyful piece; I hope it makes commuters happy,” Erin shared. She hopes passersby will notice how the colours and reflections change with the light throughout the day.

If you’re passing by the Davies Station LRT ramp, make sure to observe the colours, shapes, and reflections of the Confluence mosaics. Share your photos with us on social media using #YEGPublicArt.

About Erin Pankratz

Erin Pankratz was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, grew up in Fort Smith and moved to Edmonton, where she currently lives and works. Her body of work includes contemporary mosaics, public art, murals, commissions, and collaborative projects. A two-time recipient of the Innovation in Mosaic Award from the Society of American Mosaic Artists, she is a frequent guest artist, instructor, and lecturer. She has exhibited in France, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and the United States. In addition, she co-founded Red Knot Studio, which specializes in public art and site-specific projects. Erin is also one of the recipients of the 2021 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund.