Calgary Parklands - Bow River Pathway to Chinatown

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Promised a look at the ice sculptures in Chinatown, we gathered at Pumphouse Theatre for our gentle 10 km trek. The Bow River Pathway was cleared of snow and ice, allowing our minds to wander and conversation to flow. With the chinook developing behind us, trees and bushes were silhouetted black against the frozen white of the river.

The detour around the flood-mitigation work near the Centre Street Bridge brought us to the huge Waterfront Condo development. In acknowledgement of its proximity to Chinatown, Waterfront has installed “Moon Gate and Coyote”, a whimsical juxtaposition of a glowing mirrored circular moon gate inhabited by dragon and a smoothly sculptured black coyote peering over its shoulder at intruders. In a startling moment, when we turned around to leave the courtyard, the glowing mirror had switched into the bright yellow of the sun.

Faithfully following our leaders, we came upon first one and then more large ice carvings celebrating the Year of the Tiger. While some walkers went into the very nearby bakery, others debated whether one tiger didn’t look more like a bear. Munching snacks, we toured the other ice sculptures, each sponsored by a local business. Having achieved our goal, we turned back, pausing often to chase chickadees and wood-peckers with our cameras.

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Photos

Coyote and Moongate, Waterfront Condos
Unusual tribute to a local varmint

Year of the Tiger
Sculpture sponsored by Dragon City Mall

Louise Bridge
Over the frozen Bow River

Coyote
Ever vigilant

Year of the Tiger
Sculpture sponsored by Golden Inn Restaurant

Year of the Tiger
Sculpture sponsored by Silver Dragon Restaurant

Year of the Tiger
Sculpture sponsored by Diamond Bakery

Year of the Tiger
Sculpture sponsored by Great Taste Restaurant

Painted benches by Kevin Chow
... next to the hope for summer flowers

Mural on the Wah Ying Mansion
Outdoor Aquarium?

Mural on the Wah Ying Mansion DSCN5473
Playing Pandas

Painted bench by Kevin Chow
SSSSnake

Painted bench by Kevin Chow
Make you hungry?

Artistic utility boxes
Dragon rampant

Artistic utility boxes
Even fiercer dragon!

Downy Woodpecker
Searching for bugs

Water and ice
Bow River

Chinook arch
Welcome warm breezes

Comments

[Isabel Gibson]

Fun!
Kevin Chow's benches are both whimsical and individual - a great range of styles coming from one artist. And the utility boxes are fabulous. Public spaces - especially in downtown areas - deserve this level of attention.

[beentouring]

Painted utility boxes
Such a good decision some years ago by The City to treat utility boxes as canvases. The art is contextual to its neighbourhood.

[Elle Jay]

As much as I love travelling, I love seeing what is in my own backyard so to speak. Thanks for sharing

[beentouring]

Back yard travel
Seeing our own neighbourhoods as tourists might is a delightful form of exploration.