Degree Name

Department

Humanities, Classics, and Comparative Literature

College

Humanities

Defense Date

2018-06-25

Publication Date

2018-07-07

First Faculty Advisor

James Swensen

First Faculty Reader

Kenneth Hartvigsen

Honors Coordinator

Martha Peacock

Keywords

Alberta art, Canadian art, Fraser McGurk, Jason Carter, Calgary Airport, Bowfort Towers

Abstract

This thesis is a case study of two contemporary, regionalist public artworks in Alberta: Untitled, by Fraser McGurk, and Alberta Bound Panorama, by Jason Carter. The province’s economic history is outlined as an important background factor to understanding contemporary public artworks. The two artists use symbols such as the train, compass, and grain elevator to connect a contemporary audience with Alberta’s past, reminding today’s residents of the province’s tradition of success. Even in locations that target “tourists,” these paintings use local symbols to emphasize a message of prosperity and unity to the local people of Alberta.

Copyright Statement

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/