This work was commissioned by Husky Oil and Trizec, partners in the Western Canadian Place complex in Calgary. Those living in cities with public art programs will know of ‘density swaps’ which are responsible for much of public art; so it was with The Builders. The edifice is a 41-storey and a 31-storey building connected by a ‘crystal palace’ -style atrium where the sculpture resides. The theme of the work was to be illustrative of the notion of the two commissioning corporations being builders--Trizec in the actual sense, for that is what they do, and Husky in the abstract sense i.e., building the lives of its people and province. The structure was intentionally designed not to be identified so much as a building but rather just the product of ‘building’. I organized the work to lead one’s eye from bottom to top. In aid of this progression, the primitive quarry block lower structure becomes more faired off through the second stage, blending to a crisp and tailored upper stage; the final block being set in place is smartly trimmed and polished.
THE BUILDERS - a sculpture in bronze and granite
by George Pratt
The architects had originally planned a water feature for the site; hence they asked me to incorporate water as part of my creation. After much difficulty, I contrived an intricate system of irrigation valves which had the sculpture rising out of a primordial mist. It came off well indeed and added agreeably to the whole; but none among us could ever devise a way to control the drifting of the mist due to the ambient air currents in the atrium; hence pools of water eventually formed on the floor. Sadly, we had to shelve the idea and shut the misting down but the fountain pool, not unattractive, remains.
Few public artworks are more suitably sited; the viewer can experience the work from every aspect, even ascending to the mezzanine to be on level with the very topmost figure. It is truly an artwork that tells a story and has been much enjoyed and photographed by an admiring public over the years. At the present time, 2016, the atrium space is under ‘repurposing‘ planning and The Builders will be disassembled in preparation for relocating to another site (as yet to be idenitied) for a new incarnation.
Of interest to other sculptors: This was one of the most difficult works I have ever tackled, requiring much more than an ability to carve. I did it only because I’m a thick-headed type who never learned to say ‘no’. I’m writing up a ‘How did he do that?’ account of the project and will post it here shortly.
