The next time you drive through southwest Edmonton, you might catch a glimpse of whimsical fairies dancing in a field of neon flowers.
These fantastical creatures, designed by Edmonton illustrator Chelsea Wong, adorn a traffic control box at Windermere Boulevard and Terwillegar Drive. The box houses electrical equipment used to operate traffic signals at intersections.
“I hope it sparks some joy,“ she says of her design. “I like it because it’s so much fun.”
Wong’s work is one of 12 winning entries in the City of Edmonton’s Vibrant Streets Art Contest, to add vibrancy, colour and character to local intersections. Edmontonians voted on these designs, and the winners’ artwork was installed in each of Edmonton’s 12 wards.
Some of the designs feature local landmarks, some look further afield for inspiration, while others are more abstract in nature.
Alaynee Goodwill-Littlechild says she entered the contest to push the boundaries of her creativity and “contribute to the vibrant cultural fabric of our city.” She’s an internationally renowned Dakota/Lakota multimedia artist who specializes in beadwork, quillwork and jewelry.
“I was drawn to the idea of creating something that can be experienced and enjoyed by people from all walks of life, and that can inspire a sense of wonder, curiosity and connection,” she says.
Here’s a closer look at some of the winning designs and the inspirations behind them:
Nakota Isga Ward
Location: 149 Street & 104 Avenue
Goodwill-Littlechild paired traditional Indigenous symbols with bright colours for her entry. She wanted to reflect the beauty and diversity of Edmonton’s neighbourhoods.
“I used three main symbols; the circle, the tipi and the star,” she says.
“The circle is a deeply symbolic shape, representing the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things. The tipi represents the values of mutual support, cooperation and collective well-being. The tipi’s open door welcomes all who enter and is a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and hospitality. Although I used traditional designs, I want the viewer to see the designs in their own way.”
Karhiio Ward
Location: 40 Avenue & 50 Street
Graphic designer Riyaz Sharan is known for his illustrations of Edmonton.
His entry features the Walterdale Bridge, Talus Dome, Fort Edmonton Park, the Princess Theatre and the downtown skyline. The collage is one of his most popular designs—he started selling puzzle versions of it during the pandemic. Some of his followers on his social media encouraged him to enter the illustration in the Vibrant Streets Art Contest.
“It’s one of the first illustrations I created, so I’m happy it’s going to be permanently out in the city,” says Sharan. “I hope people see the beauty of Edmonton and I hope it brings back a memory for them.”
Anirniq Ward
Location: 132 Avenue & 127 Street
Flower power is the theme of emerging artist Agatha Chacinski’s design, which she initially created with pencil crayons, then turned into a digital illustration.
“I felt this was a wonderful way to add some colour to our city, especially during the winter months,” she says.
“I also find a great deal of inspiration from visits to the Muttart and other botanical gardens. It also helps that my mother loves to garden and I tend to tag along with her to visit all our wonderful nurseries around the city. So this piece was inspired by some of the year’s past visits and the flora that stood out for me.”
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi Ward
Location: Ellerslie Road & 103A Street
During the pandemic, Miranda Jimmy started exploring the city’s green spaces. Her winning entry is a photo of Blackmud Creek in southwest Edmonton.
“I took full advantage of that time to just be alone in nature and to think more about placemaking and how you make the environment your space,” she says.
“I started taking pictures and connecting with the green spaces in my neighborhood in different ways. You start to see the ebbs and flows of the seasons and how human interaction impacts the natural world.”
Jimmy, who is a member of the Thunderbird First Nation, hopes her photo will encourage people to consider their relationship to the city and its naturalized places. “If this is the place you call home and the place that you live and breathe and play in, how are you connected to it?”
Métis Ward
Location: 98 Avenue & 96A Street
Radiant Peaks is the title of artist Christina Hamer’s acrylic painting, inspired by the Rocky Mountains.
“I hope people will experience joy from the colors, find calm in the organic flowing lines and feel curiosity in the abstraction,” she says.
Hamer is also a high school art and photography teacher. She made the initial sketch for this painting while teaching an online art class during the pandemic.
“I chose to enter this piece hoping it would bring color and life to our streets,” she says. “The mountains symbolize human strength and resilience, urging us to overcome obstacles and reach new heights. The dynamic color palette, with bold and lively hues of magenta, blue and yellow, radiates warmth and energy.”
papastew Ward
Location: Rainbow Valley Road & 119 Street
Artist C Paul Horsman’s acrylic painting of the High Level Bridge was inspired by a photo taken by someone who commutes to work by kayak on the North Saskatchewan River.
“I was trained as an architect, so the structural aspect of bridges is fascinating to me,” says Horsman.
“Bridges are things we use to get from Point A to Point B, but we don’t necessarily think that much about them. The undersides of bridges can be quite interesting, especially with the light bouncing off the water.”
pihêsiwin Ward
Location: Windermere Boulevard & Terwillegar Drive
As an illustrator and comic artist, much of Chelsea Wong’s work is inspired by fantasy and whimsy. Her traffic control box design is no different, featuring fairies in a field of flowers.
“We’re the city of festivals, so I thought why not have all these fun characters having a fun festival amongst all these flowers?” she says.
“I also wanted it to be very personal to Alberta. So, I thought it would be cool to do something that uses Alberta’s wildrose and a few others, such as sunflowers, asters, goldenrods, fireweed and clover.”
Dene Ward
Location: Victoria Trail & Hooke Road
Keira Faria’s digital design honours her Indigenous heritage and the beauty of Alberta.
“I included the colours of the medicine wheel, Indigenous clothing and jewelry, and an Indigenous girl with braids,” says the 14-year-old student.
“I was also inspired by the nature of Alberta and used the flower and the bird of Alberta in my artwork. Additionally, I created my own version of the Alberta flag using the wheat fields, mountains and blue skies for the background.”
O-day’min Ward
Location: River Valley Road & 105 Street
Artist Alana Halliday used watercolours to paint one of the most iconic views of the Rocky Mountains. “I lived in Jasper for two summers,” she says. “The image depicted is of Spirit Island. It is a fantastic place that gives so much inspiration.”
Her message? “Go to national parks! They are amazing and important.”
tastawiyiniwak Ward
Location: 167 Avenue and 97 Street
When artist/photographer Jennifer van Popta came across a photo of a sleepy bear peeking over some bushes, she decided to recreate her own version of the scene.
“I knew I had to paint it on a really large scale, with my typical colourful background,” she says. “I’ve actually painted several versions of this bear with different backgrounds, and with this one, I wanted to incorporate some northern lights in the night sky.”
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows a City of Edmonton worker wrapping a traffic control box with a design by artist Alaynee Goodwill-Littlechild. The box is located in the west-end neighbourhood of Canora.
The Vibrant Streets Art Contest is part of the City of Edmonton’s Vibrant Streets program. For more details, visit edmonton.ca/VibrantStreets.