Alberta EcoTrust’s Annual Environmental Gathering acts as a critical space for conversation and relationship building. The Gathering was built on respect for different points of view, aimed at drawing everyone’s attention to find new solutions to environmental challenges. In the spirit of what the Gathering means for Albertans, Students on Sustainability was given an opportunity to showcase an art installation in the lobby of Mount Royal University over April 4th and 5th 2019 during the Gathering.

The theme of the art installation incorporated key findings from the Alberta EcoTrust Alberta Narratives Project in an inclusive, energy-focused, youth built exhibit around "Alberta's Energy History & Future". The display includes imagery of an old Albertan oil derrick, a geologic cross section, Indigenous land recognition and traditional energy systems, an innovative vertical wind turbine, and a patchwork of art contributions from various youth groups including:
​Siksika Nation High School, St. Vincent de Paul School, St. Ambrose School, and youth from Boys and Girls Clubs of Airdrie.

Following the Gathering, the art installation toured the participating schools before being showcased at the Nose Hill Calgary Public Library over July and August 2019 and into the fall as part of the Calgary Public Library "Ultimate Summer Challenge." 

The concept was created by Patrick Duke at the University of Calgary. Support comes from The University of Calgary Graduate Students Association, The University of Calgary Office of Sustainability and Alberta EcoTrust.

This art installation would not have been possible without our sponsors and all the work put in by so many others!
Thanks to the Graduate Students' Association of the University of Calgary for financially supporting the project! Adam Patterson and Jo Luke Giles at Scatliff Miller Murray for the design template, Al Ehman for his outstanding carpentry building the tower base, John McBean at Plastic Works Inc for cutting our turbine pieces, White Ice Ltd. for donating the plastic, Paige​ Murphy for creating our decal and plaque, Jim and Cathy Duke for all their hard work varnishing and assembling, Claude Labelle for helping with assembly, Feyre Gezahegn ​ for her belief in the project, Olivia Reshetylo for discussing initial design ideas, Parisa Rahimian and Nick Butt for helping mobilize students on campus, University of Calgary Office of Sustainability for offering a space and finding volunteers to help stain and build, Suzanne Chew​ for recommending us to Alberta Ecotrust Foundation during a 2019 Environmental Gathering planning meeting, all the friends and students who volunteer for Students on Sustainability​ that came out to help, and of course the youth and educators at Siksika Nation High School (designed and built the headpiece), St. Vincent de Paul School (painted acrylic on wood), St. Ambrose School (oil paint on canvas) and Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie (acrylic on lowest section)​ for really making this art installation their own expression of "Alberta's Energy History and Future."

Contact
​

Patrick Duke
pjduke@ucalgary.ca