Public Artwork
Body, Mind, Spirit
Location:
Southland Leisure Centre , 2000 Southland Drive SW, Calgary, AB, T2V 4S4, Canada
See map: Google Maps
Artwork creator(s):
Williams, Blake
Text author(s):
Williams, Blake
Installation year:
2009
Remarks on location:
In the main hall
Description:
The artist installed a series of text- and photo-based ceramic tiles in the main hall of Southland Leisure Centre. The intent of the public art piece is to capture the spirit of the Centre by reflecting the activities that take place there, and its postion as a wellness and gathering place for the communities it serves.
The layering of imagery and glazes, with the incorporation of a multitude of small details and textures, creates a sense of movement and rhythm, reflecting the spirit of the facility's users. The images are representative of wellness, accessibility, participation and recreation, and celebrate the cultural diversity of the surrounding communities.
The red strip of fused glass that runs through the piece as a metaphorical river, together with the 30+ translations of the word 'welcome' and the symbolic use of hands, reflect the universal concepts of interconnectivity, respect and acceptance.
Text of the artwork:
mind
body
spirit
elan
ethos
balance
Mercurius
all things
separate
yet
intertwined
[«welcome» in various languages]
welcome, chao mung, khosh aamadd, laskavo prosymo, huan yin, bienvenido, selamat datang, aloha, vitajte, foon ying, merhaba, velkomen, dobrodoshli, witamy, hamnida, welkom, tervetuloa, mabuhay, swaagatam, willkommen, bienvenue, dobro polalovat, karibu
Text theme:
Greetings
Artwork theme:
Spirit of the Southland Leisure Centre; community
Note(s):
Commissioned by the City of Calgary’s Public Art Program. The artist was selected through an open call process with a submission deadline of November 9, 2007. The artistic budget was $65,000. The project was a collaborative initiative from the Public Art Program and the Department of Recreation. The capital project which provided the funding was Renovation and Facility Enhancement. Body Mind Spirit was completed in April 2009.
Artist's biography:
Blake Williams
Owner(s):
City of Calgary 
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