Big Sky
Big Sky claims the central fountain space in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza with a patterned surface of sky and clouds and a gathering of birds drifting through the Alberta sky.
Allowing the fountain space to function with or without water, the pixilated graphic installation of the Big Sky on the surface of the central water feature, reminds visitors of the unique vastness of Alberta’s sky, and celebrates its ever shifting, fleeting, ephemeral quality that contributes to Calgary’s identity. Larger than life, the Big Sky reflects the daily and seasonal flows that can change in an instant. The Big Sky pixilated graphic prompts a connection to the immediate site, while recognizing its importance as one link of the larger Park System network that envelops Calgary.
Layered above the Big Sky is a gathering of birds that appear to be drifting by. Gently shifting and moving, the birds respond to the surrounding influences of light, weather, wind, and water. Catching glints of light, the birds reference the larger natural systems that encompass and envelop Calgary. With a wind current the gently swaying birds appear as if they are migrating with the clouds. On their delicate stems, the birds are also reminiscent of the vast Prairie grasses, while their contoured massing evokes the foothills that provide the iconic background for Calgary. Drifting and playing in the currents, the birds enjoy their stay, as do visitors to Olympic Plaza.
The Big Sky installation promotes the importance of the Park System’s sites through the connection of the sky and the migrating birds that travel through this significant network. Depicting the dynamics of nature, the Big Sky installation enlarges the scale of Calgary’s Olympic Plaza by connecting it to the vast and ephemeral qualities of the atmosphere.
