Big Rock

A sculptural, visual landmark of downtown Edmonton, Big Rock was completed by artists Catherine Burgess and Sandra Bromley to bring a focal point to Rice Howard Way and celebrate nature.

The large-scale public art sculpture is inspired by the natural phenomenon of rockstacks. Developed after erosion over millions of years, rockstacks form with needle-like tops that usually support some long-surviving, windswept foliage at its uppermost tip. When searching for granite to complete the project, the artists worked with a geologist to search the nation for a suitable stone. The 62 tons of granite used in this sculpture was blasted from its quarry and shipped to Edmonton in three pieces to be installed.

Animating a prominently architectural street, the urban sculpture with elevated alpine garden offers a visual retreat to urban life. The artists hope Big Rock enlivens community awareness and provides pride of place to those who stop to take in the towering granite rock.