Bergen: A City of Gastronomy

Morning in Bryggen. Photographed by: Zhang Shaoqi

Bergen is home to Bryggen, the historic harbour district, which is one of North Europe’s oldest and most important ports. Although these colourful houses are now more of a tourist attraction, they were once the location busy with trade – seafood being one of the most significant goods. In 2015, Bergen was designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. According to the Creative Cities Network (n.d.), Bergen’s food culture is deeply rooted in the biodiversity of the sea, sustainability, nutrition and supporting local farmers and entrepreneurs.

I visited Bergen a few summers back and fell in love with city. I was in awe of how well preserved the Hanseatic House were. The food culture can be seen through the city. Right beside the harbour is a market where locals sell all kinds of goods including fresh seafood. This city gives a small community feel and is full of places to explore.

Children at Play in Mmofra Park

Smith, A. (2018, June 26). Playing it Forward by Honouring the Past in Accra. Retrieved from https://playgroundology.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/playing-it-forward-by-honouring-the-past-in-accra/

Accra, Ghana is home to Mmofra Park. The name translates to "Children's Place" in Akan, the official language of the indigenous Akan people of Ghana.

Mmofra Place was constructed following concern over Accra’s urban planning:

1. There was an increasing percentage of young Ghanaians living in the city,

2. The urban center was rapidly growing, and

3. Children were losing safe spaces to explore and play close to home.

The Mmofra Foundation, having been in existence since the early 1990s, decided to direct funds and efforts into creating a park within the city, safe from the encroaching urban sprawl. To this end they collaborated with a variety of local and international stakeholders and claimed a 2-acre plot of land accessible to residents for the park.

Today the park is used as a play space for youth as well as an artistic space for adults who practice indigenous languages, learn about environmental sustainability, and for those simply looking to enjoy nature within the city.

Mmofra Park’s existence is indicative of a growing movement of art and culture in Accra, from a grassroots position. By supporting the active play of its younger generations, Accra provides the framework for a productive, healthy, and artistic future city population.

Valparaiso, Chile

(Wiens, n.d.)

My favorite city that I researched was Valparaiso Chile. I had the pleasure of visiting this city last year and fell in love with its charming murals that can be found everywhere. In my research, I learned the amazing history behind this city of murals and paintings. Murals in Valparaiso originated as a way for people to express their political opinions during the Chilean coup of 1973. During this time, Augusto Pinochet had overthrown the previous government and began ruling the country as an authoritarian dictator. Anyone who was caught speaking out against Pinochet in this time was either murdered, went missing or was taken to one of the many torture facilities that were set up all over the country. It goes without saying that expressing your political opinion was very dangerous during this time. Many murals were erased or painted over if they contained any messages that went against the government or military. The messages that were communicated through murals created a community of solidarity during those hard times in Chile. In 1990, democracy was finally restored in Chile and as a way to celebrate freedom of expression Valparaiso’s local government made public painting legal. Today the city is covered in murals, and the city encourages artists to leave their works of art in places where everyone can see and enjoy them.

Dublin, City of Words

[Photograph of the Long Room at Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland]. (n.d.). Bored Panda. Retrieved February 23, 2020 from, https://www.boredpanda.com/trinity-college-long-room-library-dublin/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

Of the many city descriptions that I sifted through when identifying my exemplar cities, one that stuck out to me was Dublin, Ireland. Firstly, Dublin has a very impactful creative economy, as the creative industries employ more people in the Greater Dublin Area than anywhere else in Ireland (Curran & van Egeraat, 2010, p. 26). While this is impressive to say the least, what I found most interesting about Dublin was the type of creative work that is most celebrated. Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature, meaning that it is exceptional in its support and facilitation of the development and appreciation of literary works (Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, n.d.). I found it very interesting to see how ingrained literature is in the city’s culture. It is clear through the image above of the Long Room at Trinity College Library in Dublin that literature holds a tremendously important place in Dublin’s DNA. Dublin influences the creation of new literary works and appreciation of old ones every day.

A UNESCO Creative City of Literature: Ljubljana

[Photo of people reading under tree]. (n.d.). Facebook. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/Library UnderTheTreetops/photos/pb.677110899031004.2207520000../2087962557945824/?type=3&theater

For this creative economies assignment, I decided to select one city that aligns with the Vivacity work around written and literary works that my team and I are tackling this semester. Having spent a fair amount of time exploring UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, I finally landed on Ljubljana, Slovenia. Why Ljubljana? I was intrigued by how dedicated the city is to literacy and the promotion of literary works. I had also never heard of this Slovenian city before, so I thought it would be a fun opportunity to learn more about a foreign place. While doing my research, I came across numerous events and initiatives held by the city in celebration of reading. One of my favourites is Library under the Treetops. This event transforms outdoor public realms into free, enjoyable reading spaces and has since grown into one of the most recognized reading programs in Slovenia. Next time you’re passing through Slovenia, be sure to check out Ljubljana!

Denver: A City of Creativity and Community

Photo by Jennifer Hogan

I have travelled to Denver in the past and enjoyed what the city had to offer. When I started researching for the assignment, I was surprised to find the extensive street art culture in Denver. In particular, the RiNo Art District really impressed me. Started by two local artists, the organization has grown over the last 15 years to be a leader in community engagement and street art culture. Structured with a unique operating model, the non-profit levies a RiNo Improvement tax on residential and commercial properties in the district. These funds are used directly in the community to promote and invest in artists and street art, local improvements, infrastructure and advocacy. RiNo has done an exceptional job of branding the organization, the orange rhino is immediately recognizable and can been seen on city infrastructure and in local business windows. The RiNo Art District has enhanced the community, uplifted street art and accessed a dynamic economic model for the community. While no model is perfect, the organization has created opportunity for artists, community members and the city.

Revitalizing Neglected Public Spaces in Ljubljana

An outdoor “Library Under the Treetops” in a Ljubljana park.

(Rhodes, D., Wolcott, P., & Luminita. (2015, April 29). Library Under The Treetops, Ljubljana. Retrieved from https://www.urbantravelblog.com/feature/ljubljana-outdoor-libraries/)

Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, is recognized by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its literature. The city hosts many international literature events, including the Fabula Festival which showcases more than 60 internationally recognized artists such as Mueller, Galloway, Franzen and Kureishi (Ljubljana, n.d., para. 2). Ljubljana promotes inclusive access to reading through diverse initiatives such as the Ljubljana Reads project to encourage youth engagement with literature. These social innovations transform the current mindset regarding literature and promote the culture of reading for everyone.

The city supports reading for all, which is evident in the outdoor libraries called Libraries Under The Treetops. Citizens are invited to read newspapers, books and magazines in the comfort of the outdoors. Diverse initiatives like these enliven public spaces by combining literature and appreciation for the environment. The project’s founder, Tina Popovič, intended to promote reading culture while simultaneously revitalizing neglected public spaces (Rhodes, Wolcott & Luminita, 2015, para. 4). Spreading reading culture in a casual outdoor setting creates a sense of playfulness and completely transforms the way people interact in a shared space. It helps to revive lesser-known areas as well. The project attracts tourists, students and volunteers alike to participate and contribute, which further increases the positive social impact of the initiative. Libraries Under The Treetops serve as a reminder that civic engagement revitalizes communities and their culture. 

North India’s not so Hidden Gem

Photo Credit: https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-pilgrimage/varanasi.html

Located on the banks of the holy Ganges river, Varanasi is an amazing study in how culture and art can embed themselves into the being of a city. There is so much going on that it is impossible to describe it all without resorting to a laundry list of all the creative industries.

Varanasi is a holy city and hosts many cultural and religious events, including scheduled worship and festivals. There are hundreds of temples and worship areas, including household shrines tucked into side-alleys. One of the most interesting festivals I discovered was the Ramlila at Ramnager, which tells the story of the Ramanaya through an immersive month-long performance which builds a sense of belonging for the attendees, many of whom attend each day.

There are street vendors selling craft arts and a strong weaving community which has built a name for itself by creating a type of saree known as the Baranasi saree, which is renowned throughout India.  

Another aspect of Varanasi is the Banaras Hindu University, which is the largest university campus in Asia and fosters a sense of learning and community. 

These are only a few of the amazing aspects of Varanasi I found while conducting my research for the exemplar cities assignment. Varanasi is a city filled with art, culture, religion and learning and I suggest anyone who is interested in learning more take a look at the fascinating body of academic work surrounding the artist community in the city.

Part of Stockholm’s Creative Economy lies Underneath the City

Painted blue vines climbing up a white cave in the T-Centralen station (Dye, 2016).

The city of Stockholm, Sweden is often considered a giant museum due to the vastness of its art scene throughout the city. Mostly integrated within architecture and public art, Stockholm is a lively city that demonstrates its adventurousness through its art scene. 

Underneath the capital of Sweden, there is an intricate system of train lines with 100 metro stations. Over 90 of those 100 metro stations have been decorated with art — spanning from paintings, installations, mosaics, and sculptures — since the 1950s by over 150 artists (Dye, 2016). Tourists from across the world visit Stockholm to see these unique and famous works of public art, as they have been the subjects of photography for decades (Dye, 2016). These metro stations are on the lists of almost every tourist attraction site on the web, demonstrating that it is likely that this public art contributes to the city’s overall creative economy.

Boston

Figure 1. Emerson College banner, by A. Dion, 2020.

I found Boston to be one of my favourite exemplar cities and I recently got to see it in person. One of the things I found interesting was that they had the most librarians in New England which Boston is located in. Before doing research on the creative economies in New England I had never thought of librarians as part of the creative economy. New England has the highest number of librarians which I think is due to there being some of the most renowned universities in the United States of America such as the Ivy Leagues. At the Ivy Leagues there are multiple libraries and in Boston there are multiple public libraries which all need to employ librarians. Another thing I found interesting is seeing how prominent the creative industries are in Boston, as Boston is not a well-known city to be full of the creative class sector. However fostering creative economies is integrated in the city planning. Before I went to Boston I never would have thought about researching its creative economy. 

Conakry Guinea

Certain places garner more attention and generate more revenue from the amount of tourism and exposure their arts scene can garner. Such places include the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Towner of Pisa, and Rome. Usually the arts require an investment of money, and if your city has other financial priorities, the arts sector can be neglected. The more money poured into the arts, the more glitz, glamour, and spectacle the art can be. Additionally, the more attention it garners from audiences and tourists from far and wide. From my research into this assignment, I began to see art as more than the “bells and whistles”, more than the status of the art or city. Art is about bringing people together, sharing tradition, and bringing joy into people’s hearts. I chose Conakry Guinea for this purpose. The invigorating beats of the djembe and the dunun drums have people dancing and having a good time. They are not paying for a fancy festival of high price performance or show. They are simply showing up and joining the fun!

East End

I would not have guessed that one of my favourite art pieces in East End would be a building. Buildings are not usually considered art, and I feel that is what makes this building so intriguing. Many buildings in Calgary are built with functionality in mind, and it often feels as if the developers go down a checklist. Tall? Check. Lots of windows? Check. Mountain view? Check. While a checklist can work for a lot of buildings, I think more buildings could be improved by moving towards constructing buildings in an innovative, creative way - as with the Central library.

Downtown has a lot more art than I originally thought, but I know I have seen at least a quarter of the public art before and just did not take it in. Surely, I am not the only one. In general, I feel we do not perceive what is not directly in front of us. Since art is usually off to the side of the path, we just walk by without stopping to look at it. Our Jane’s Walk purposefully took us off the path to pause and look at the art which may have been missed. As well, our Jane’s Walk helped us to look at our environment differently and reframe what can be considered art. While some may not consider a building to be a piece of art, the Central Library is certainly masterful in its design and beauty.

West-End Downtown/West Village

For the Jane’s Art Walk, our team chose the west-end of downtown. We were intentional about this choice, as we were interested in exploring an area of downtown that was less familiar to us. We spent time on two different occasions wandering the streets of West Village in order to get to know the community. Although it isn’t as revamped as East Village, the west end has its own personality. West Village is a mix of new and established, of residential and corporate — splattered with colourful murals. There are hidden gems like Sigla Books that shares its space with Loophole coffee. 

Pictured above is The Calgary Scroll located on 8th Street SW Underpass. It gives viewers a look into Calgary past through things like old headlines and advertisements. As a group, we discussed how many times we had seen The Calgary Scroll without knowing it’s name or what was actually scrolling across. This was a common theme throughout exploring downtown. The experience of learning more about the art we’re surrounded with and that we see all the time represents what the Jane’s Art Walk is all about. 

Before the Walk

Going into Jane’s walk, we had no preconceived notions about what it was or what it entailed. After some light research, we came to the conclusion that Jane’s walk first originated in 2007 by Jane Jacobs. The purpose of the walk was to appreciate the local culture of an area, the history as well as perceiving any local planning issues that the residents may have. Our group elected to choose the Eauclaire/Prince’s Island area to document. Needless to say, the rich culture and bountiful art throughout the area made it seem like the perfect spot. Participating in an organized event of this nature we felt could be very rewarding, giving us a better understanding of our community and the culture that comes along with it. Events such as Jane’s walk, give us an opportunity to learn more about our city and further our understanding of the communities we are part of.

Stephen Avenue: An Area of Business and Pleasure

Our Jane’s Walk of centre east covered the most popular spots on Stephen Avenue: the Core, Bankers Hall, the Palace Theatre, the Bay, etc. A common theme that we found during our walk was that centre east is both a place of business and pleasure. Centre east as an area is filled with banks and oil and gas companies but also places to shop, have a coffee and eat.

Since Stephen Avenue gives off such a professional, corporate culture, it’s nice to have public art lining the avenue to balance it out, such as the “Conversation” statues by William McElcheran and the featured photo of this post. The featured photo is a photo of the Galleria Tree Sculptures gifted to the City of Calgary by Trizec Hahn Office Properties and fabricated by Empire Iron Works in 2000. 

Although we have an appreciation for art in general, we especially appreciate functional art. Not only are the Galleria Trees pretty to look at, the design is meant to reduce wind gusts between Bankers Hall and the Home Oil Tower. Calgary does get windy sometimes, so we love that the sculpture serves more than one purpose.

“Porte Cochere de La Lumiere” (The Portal of Light)

“Glass is the most magical of all materials. It transmits light in a special way.” - Gale Chihuly

Our group chose to explore the downtown centre east location for this semester's Jane’s Walk. While I do spend a frequent amount of time downtown, it was refreshing to take more than a quick glance at some of the incredible art installations the core has to offer. 

Our first impressions of this area were that it housed many corporate companies and buildings, creating a very “cement community”. However, the immense amount of fascinating artwork we came across diluted that dull notion and turned it into “I wonder what’s around that corner?”

The structure pictured above was designed by Michael Hayden and commissioned by Amoco Oil (Now known as BP). During the day, it appears to be just a stainless steel and glass structure. However, at night, there are a couple light portals that shine from the ground up, casting an array of colour into the glass panels. It is considered a visual light show to those walking by.

This was one of my favourite installations we came across. I picked this structure in particular as I felt inspired by the idea that it had a second component to it - the projected lights that are only visible at night. That alone would make me want to come back to it during the evening and see the vibrant colours cascading over the glass panels.

Centre West

The middle of January might strike most Calgarians as an odd time to take a long walk around downtown, and it would be hard to blame them. Temperatures might have plummeted to -40 degrees the week prior, but my classmates and I were excited to get outside and see our city in a new lens, especially in the current, relatively temperate weather conditions. 

Last week, myself and three of my classmates took a walk around the Centre West area of downtown as a part of a Jane’s Walk. We hoped to search out examples of art in the area and were excited by the many examples of public art we were able to find.The picture above of the sculpture Buffalo Trails by JoAnne Schachtel is one example that, I believe, all of us were taken by. The herd of buffalo seemed to be marching across a field by the Alberta Court of Appeals and gave us pause to reflect on the history of the land we were standing on. 

Walking through the downtown core and mindfully looking for art is something I have never thought of doing before. Usually, public art is something I may notice in passing as I rush to a meeting or to catch a bus. Within minutes, however, of starting our Jane’s Walk, excitement filled me as, within minutes, it began to feel like a scavenger hunt. It was a lot of fun to wander around a part of the city and to be able to discover artworks seemingly hidden in plain sight. To me, it seemed to give a new face to the city, one that I can explore and that has encouraged me to be more mindful as I move around my community. One of my group members noted the the new architecture and old buildings of downtown, as well as the art displays, has proven to her how picturesque Calgary is. Art appears to be ingrained in the infrastructure and architecture of the city. To another, the Jane’s Walk allowed her to enter an area of the city with little prior knowledge and to be mesmerized by the sights and examples of art.

It is my hope that more Calgarians realize the depth of art in our community. As we wandered around downtown and really looked at our city, I noticed many people, much as I usually am, in a rush to get somewhere and not noticing what was going on around them. It is very normal in many cities, as well as Calgary, to be hurried and busy. I do wonder, however, what our community and lives would look like if everyone was able to take a bit of time to wander a part of the city with new eyes, their only job being to discover what makes their neighbourhood great. 

Chinatown

For the Jane’s Art Walk, our group decided to explore Chinatown. Our group had varying knowledge bases about the area, making for a group able to share the space and see it through fresh eyes. Chinatown is a very rich community in terms of history and art — to talk about the history of Calgary’s Chinatown is to talk about adaptation and survival. The implementation of this community for Calgary’s Chinese population started in the late 1800s — 12 years before Calgary officially became a city — when the first Chinese immigrants settled along the Bow River. The first ever Chinatown was established near Stephen Avenue, but when a fire burned down much of the community, Chinatown was relocated. In 1910, it was relocated again, forcing Chinese-Canadians to the present-day location: north of 4th Avenue, from 2nd Street to Macleod Trail (Wong, n.d.).

Pictured above is the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre — an integral piece of the preservation of Calgary’s Chinatown. Built in 1992, this non-profit organization serves as a community centre for the Chinese community inside and around Calgary. While we initially thought the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre was beautiful, it wasn’t until after our Jane’s Walk that we recognized the significance of the building’s architecture. Modelled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, this building itself is a work of art. The interior of the building is filled with hundreds of paintings of dragons and phoenixes, much like the Temple of Heaven, which was built in 1420 and was used by Emperors to pray and communicate with their gods. The blue tiles on the outside of the roof were even created by the same company that made the tiles for the Temple of Heaven, shipped from China to Calgary (Cultural Centre, Dr. Henry Fok Cultural Hall, n.d.). As the anchor of Calgary’s Chinatown, this building is extremely telling of how much intention is put behind the art and ethnic history that adorns the streets of this community.

This building, and what we experienced on this Jane’s Art Walk, is a significant example of how art is all around us in this city — we just have to look up to see it.

First impressions

Before I get started, I should mention that I was looking forward to taking this class as I heard how much other students who have previously taken this class really enjoyed their learning experience. So far it has not disappointed. In class we have had several inspiring guest speakers talk to us about the arts sector and how important the arts sector is for Calgary’s economic development as well as adding to making Calgary a vibrant city. I am looking forward to what can be learned in this class and the opportunity to test different ideas out throughout the course in application to the arts sector.

I think it is neat to have our classroom at the Central Library away from Mount Royal University. While somewhat inconvenient to get to coming from MRU, it has been a pleasant experience thus far. With much gratitude, the folk at Central Library have been generous and hospitable with their space. My first class was also my first time visiting the Central Library. Architecturally it is beautiful, with plenty of spaces for various uses.  I look forward to spending the rest of my semester there.