SASKATOON — The City of Saskatoon has begun decorating in time for the December holiday celebrations. It has also completed some art installations.
Saskatoon Light & Power personnel will start putting up seasonal decorations starting Tuesday, Nov. 9, with initial work affecting traffic along University and Broadway Bridges.
The decoration of University Bridge will be from 9 a.m. to noon and Broadway Bridge will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Due to the time it takes to install seasonal decorations, work needs to start early. Decorations will not be turned on until after Remembrance Day on Thursday, Nov. 11,
There will be moving work zones and will impact traffic in both directions. Road users are reminded to slow down in work zones and be respectful of workers.
The City of Saskatoon says it is also pleased to announce the completion of several recent public artwork installations (mural, painting, and sculpture) in Broadway, Downtown, and Riversdale areas. Prince Albert-born artist Ruth Cuthand had two artworks featured.
The public artworks are “Make a Wish” by Kyle Thornley; “Inner City” by Josh Jacobson; “Resurgence” a collaboration of Ruth Cuthand, Henry Lau, and Steven Paul; “Carousal” by Karen Ho Fatt Lee; and “Saadat Qalbi/Miyawâtam 1” by Cuthand and Suada Jailan.
Thornley’s “Make a Wish” is a steel sculpture that captures the essence of resilience, growth, and optimism expressed through a mature dandelion stalk and seeds held by vibrant, colourful fingers. It is located downtown at the corner of 2nd Avenue N and 23rd Street E.
“Inner City” by Jacobson is a mural highlighting an urban female jackrabbit bounding toward the Saskatoon City Centre. “Inner City” is 1,675 square feet in size, making it one of the largest murals in the city and it is located in River Landing beneath the Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge.
Cuthand and Lau presents “Resurgence” a 3-D aluminum sculpture — painted by Steven Paul — of a buffalo, cow, and calf in an intimate position. The sculpture represents the relationship between Indigenous people and the buffalo. Located in the Riversdale Business Improvement District (BID) at the corner of 20th Street and Avenue B.
“Carousal” by Lee is a two-aluminum carousel-type horses painted in bright orange, yellow and blue, and attached with a cenrte pole. “Carousal” is a play on words, a merry-go-round of fun and boisterous (carousing) merrymaking. It is located in the Broadway BID at the corner of Broadway Avenue and 10th Street.
Cuthand's second artwork (Saadat Qalbi/Miyawâtam 1) is with Suada Jailan and curated by Dr. Jen Budney. It is a hand-painted aluminum sculpture composed of floral motives inspired by both Cree/Michif beadwork and traditional East African henna design. It can be viewed in the Broadway BID at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Main Street.
