From the Danish Canadian Club, our group managed its way around/through a bit of a crane obstacle course and headed in to the most opulent of towers, Eighth Avenue Place (EAP). I have to say that the maneuvering and laughter just made the entire experience more fun! Look at the size of these cranes!
Our fearless leader gives her apologies…
Belay on!
Gordon Menzies, General Property Manager, was inside to greet us and fully prepared with an excellent presentation about Calgary’s premier office tower where wonderful art collides with world-class design! My writing about this experience will cover three separate posts because there were three distinct art happenings within this same venue.
One of my favourite Canadian artists is Jack Shadbolt. In fact, one of my most important art history papers was written about Shadbolt. It was a dream to turn a first corner in EAP and be visually confronted by these panels titled Wild Grass Suite – Quintet!
Next, Jack Bush‘s work! His piece, New York 55 (1955) is outstanding! I am rarely featured in any tour photographs because generally, I am the monkey behind the camera, but in this case, I insisted that Wendy snap a couple.
Another one of the Painter’s Eleven, Ray Mead’s Totem (1986) is a beautiful painting to see in such a well lit and welcoming location at the front desk. Given my father’s service in the RCAF, I am particularly interested in the fact that Ray Mead served in the RAF and that he was born into a Watford family, where my own daughter met, fell in love with and married her husband.
Next, I was aghast to see a Jean-Paul Riopelle piece titled Oliviers (1966). Who would have thought? This brought up recollections of gallery-viewing in both Quebec City and Montreal when I did a cross Canada gallery trip some years back. How surprising that Riopelle should be found in Eighth Avenue Place in Calgary, Alberta!
Next, Le Climat Rouge (1957) by Jean McEwen RCA. Wendy was captured, seated before this one and looking like she is a part of the painting. At each stop, the conversations continued about the art, the framing and about all other related topics.
Finally, Marcelle Ferron’s Chile (1973) exploded with colour. I was glad to see that a female painter of the automatiste style was represented here.
To conclude this portion of our EAP tour, Gordon Mensies pointed out several settings of furniture designed by Arnee Jacobsen, Earo Saarinen and Florence Knoll. A concern for a beautiful aesthetic was evident throughout the space.
Arne Jacobsen 3300 Chair (1956)
Oval Coffee Table (1956) Eero Saarinen
Much gratitude to Gordon Menzies who came in on a Saturday to expand our knowledge and to enjoy the aesthetic of such an amazing tower.
