What are your favourite statues or other works of public art in a Canadian city?

[SignalHillHiker]

The recent posts in the Ugly Canada thread made me wonder what sorts of statues or other works of public art you cherish in your city?

The most famous statue in St. John's is almost certainly the Peter Pan statue in Bowring Park.

It was commissioned by Sir Edgar Bowring, of one of St. John's most prominent families, in memory of his granddaughter, Betty Munn, who was among those killed when the Florizel was wrecked at Cappahayden, Newfoundland, in February of 1918.

It was created by Sir George Frampton, who also created an identical one for Kensington Gardens in London, and unveiled in August of 1925.

The inscription on it reads, "In memory of a little girl who loved the park."



Equally famous in the park are statues dedicated to the members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in uniform.

I took this photo on July 2, 2012. July 1 is Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. It's the day we do everything the rest of Canada does on Remembrance Day, including parades, poppies, wreath layings, etc. That's why all the poppies are on this statue in the summer.



And, of course, the National War Memorial (named before we joined Canada, obviously) that bridges Water and Duckworth streets in downtown St. John's (Photos taken on July 1, Memorial Day):





Another favourite, one which I don't have a great picture of, is this statue on George Street, which celebrates Newfoundland's musical heritage:

Photo by Flickr user I-AM-MMM:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/i-am-mm...n/photostream/

Another is the Rower on Quidi Vidi Lake, which celebrates the history of North America's oldest annual sporting event: the Royal St. John's Regatta. The 194th annual one was held today, August 1, 2012:

By Flickr user weezeerthewonderful

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4354128...n/photostream/

[SignalHillHiker]

One other for St. John's - but I can only post a link to it, I assume, because there are breasts involved.

You know how ever city has that thing that they get artists to paint, and there are 50 of them all over the city?

Winnipeg, for example, has Polar Bears.

This is what St. John's used. Not the best, nor the worst: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mig/211...n/photostream/

[Martin Mtl]

My favorite in Montreal is L'Homme by Alexander Calder, made for Expo 67. These pics were taken by me during the Piknic Electronic, held every sunday under and around the sculpture on Ste-Helen island

















My second favorite is La Joute, a sculpture/fountain by Jean-Paul Riopelle, made for the 1976 Olympic. The fountain has water, mist and fire.









I also like Venus, the fountain of Place Ville-Marie, especially because it works even in winter, all covered in ice.







All pics by me.

[SignalHillHiker]

I love the Venus!

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

We have the same thing in Toronto. I knew there was one in London too, but I had no idea the original was in St. John's!


Peter Pan by Glenn R Gannon, on Flickr




A few of my other favourites:


Boer War Memorial


Boer War Memorial, University Ave by pocampo1, on Flickr

(unfortunately the fountain has been out of commission for a few years now)



More recently, gotta love this guy in the Distillery




Zhang Huan's Rising


2012-05-05 RISING sculpture reveal LG by SummitMetal, on Flickr


This might be a bit of a stretch, but technically it is still a monument - the Princes' Gate


Christmas Chandillier by SzymonB, on Flickr


Princes' Gate by swilton, on Flickr

[SignalHillHiker]

^ Maybe London's is the original? I don't know, sorry.

LOVE all the ones you posted. Every single one. Wow!

[someone123]

One in Halifax that I like is the Britannia statue on top of the former post office building. Back in the 1860's it looked directly out into the Atlantic:


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Another interesting one is the Welsford-Parker Crimean War monument.

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The Public Gardens are packed with stuff. This is the Boer War fountain:

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The "Wave" on the waterfront is maybe the most famous in the city, partly because of its "no climbing" sign:


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The most impressive monument is not particularly well-known since it is not downtown. The memorial tower in Fleming Park was built to commemorate the 150th anniversary of representative government in NS, back in 1912. It's been undergoing restoration for a few years. Maybe I'll take some more photos of it when I go back. Inside there are plaques donated by Commonwealth countries.


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[SignalHillHiker]

^ Gorgeous.

I especially love the Crimean War one.

[BIMBAM]

Wow, what a great idea for a thread, I love it!

Okay, they're new, but I'm a big fan of these very realistic looking giant sparrow statues that litter a public square in Vancouver.



I'm also a big fan of the Cenotaph on in Mount Royal park in Montreal. There's always alot of activity around it, and it's the centre of activity of the tam tams, a big weekly drum circle that's been going on there for decades. I believe the Cenotaph commemorates those who lay down their lives in the first world war.



I'm a big fan of this playful set of statues in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver. If one investigates the details of these figures up close whole stories arise! They're alot of fun.



The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe, by Bill Reid in the Vancouver airport.



The Illuminated Crowd, on McGill College Avenue in Montreal.



These "commuting" statues by a skytrain station in Vancouver.



I like this coloured fountain in Place des Arts in Montreal:

[SignalHillHiker]

Wow, Vancouver has some pretty cool stuff. I love the playful statues. That I would LOVE to see in St. John's. The birds are cool too, great for VC!

[The_Architect]

Canadian Volunteer Monument:
Dedicated to University of Toronto volunteers who fought and died in the Fenian Raids of 1866, it is one of Toronto's oldest monuments and, despite being eroded quite a bit, still really beautiful.





War of 1812 Memorial:
Some don't like it but I personally do. Very tongue-in-cheek.

[The_Architect]

Also the Canada Victoria Memorial in Hamilton:

[bulliver]

Can't think of anything in Edmonton that I'm terribly keen on, but The Device to Root Out Evil in Calgary is my kind of art:

Device to root out evil by Etownbeatdown, on Flickr

Vancouver's loss...

[kw5150]

The downdraft-wind-calming "tree sculptures" in downtown Calgary.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6070/6...1fb7a1cc_z.jpg

[MonctonRad]

This is a recent addition to the Moncton streetscape.



This statue of Northrop Frye sits in front of the Moncton Public Library in tne Blue Cross Centre on Main St. Frye is a favourite son of the city, having grown up and been educated here. Moncton is the home of the Northrop Frye Literary Festival, and a truly impressive array of the world's best authors have visited the city to participate.

[SpongeG]

the harry jarome statue in stanley park



the girl in the wet suit - also stanley park


robhuntley.ca

orca by douglas coupland at the convention centre

jaunted.com

orca at the vancouver aquarium


this one in kitsilano i think its called water no4

fotopedia.com

and this one called the drop at the convention centre

[artvandelay]

My favourites in Calgary:

"The Conversation" featuring 2 portly businessmen chatting is a fixture on Stephen Avenue:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/faceme/452074756/

and the "Family of Man" was originally on display at Expo 67 in Montreal and gifted to the City of Calgary soon after:

http://www.treklens.com/gallery/photo529529.htm

[trueviking]

^ the family of man is spectacular...one of my favourite public art pieces in the country

i always liked this statue in calgary too.


http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/med...l-arch-jpg.jpg

[jlousa]

Great idea for a thread. For Vancouver I'm surprised no one has posted the laughing guys are English Bay. Also a big fan of the crab at the planetarium and the Angel of Victory at Waterfront station. Winnipeg and Montreal also have an Angel of Victory.

[Andrewjm3D]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

^ Maybe London's is the original? I don't know, sorry.

LOVE all the ones you posted. Every single one. Wow!

It is and it's located in Kensignton, the first replica was made and sent to Perth Australia. It seems many replicas have been made.