Recent public art conservation work

Summer and fall are busy times for our conservation team at the EAC. Along with regular maintenance, graffiti removal and oversight of the close to 300 artworks in the City of Edmonton Public Art Collection, major conservation work was undertaken for Talus Dome, Still Life, Madonna of the Wheat, and A Vision of Hope.

Talus Dome was damaged in April 2023. Composed of nearly 1,000 hand-crafted stainless-steel spheres that together assume the shape of an abstracted pile or mound, Talus Dome reflects the sky, the weather and the river of cars that pass by it. Before the Quesnell bridge was constructed, talus forms of earth occurred naturally along the river valley, therefore, the artwork reminds us of the landscape that has been altered by the bridge. After three months of being fenced off to protect both the artwork and the public, repairs by our local contractors began in August. Dented and damaged spheres were cut out and new spheres inserted, then welded into place. Additionally, the sculpture has been cleaned, and minor landscaping work was completed. We anticipate removal of the fencing within the coming days.

Still Life was created by Studio F Minus in 2014. The work is a set of six sculptures located in the centre of the grassy space near the MacEwan LRT station. On their own, each is a whimsical, colourful addition to the site. When viewed together from a viewpoint looking through the picture frame sculpture, the overall scene comes together into one image of a fruit bowl still-life. Nearing its tenth birthday, this artwork needed restoration. The picture frame was heavily damaged and required repairs that included removal, welding, and repainting. The work was reinstalled in late September. Stop by to take a selfie today!

Madonna of the Wheat by John Weaver is a figurative bronze sculpture in front of City Hall. It portrays a female figure wearing traditional Ukrainian dress and holding a bundle of wheat. According to the artist, ​“The young woman cradles the wheat in her arms as though it were a child. She feels the good earth beneath her feet and turns her face to the warm sun. Without words she is giving thanks for the miracle of the wheat” symbolizing agriculture, abundance and the fertility of the land. The piece, installed in 1981, was removed due to nearby construction of the civic precinct surface removal. While removed, it received a new granite plinth, and then re-installed in mid September.

A Vision of Hope by Michele Mitchell was installed in Mary Burlie Park in 1999 to memorialize the École Polytechnique tragedy. Three life-size female figures, symbolizing suffering, healing, and hope, rest on top of a gear wheel base representing the 14 female engineering students who lost their lives in 1989 at École Polytechnique in Montréal when a lone gunman entered a classroom and opened fire. The broken steel I‑beam reflects both the engineering background of the victims and the ​‘lightning-like’ shattering of their lives. The artwork has been damaged over the years and although it has received multiple restoration treatments, it now requires full removal for treatment.

To explore the City of Edmonton public art collection, click here.