Hidden Charms

Tommie Gallie // 1991

Wood
Churchill LRT Station Pedway

About

Hidden Charms juxtaposes a firm and heavy wood structure with light, graceful arches created with dowels. The reflection of the wood arches from the steel ceiling of the Churchill LRT Station Pedway is a component of this piece – an interplay of the wood/steel relationship.

The title Hidden Charms was chosen because of the artwork’s many visual qualities and as well as the sense of discovery that can be enjoyed by the viewer. The sculpture can be walked under, through, and around. The viewer can be totally enclosed by the artwork or can engage the work from numerous different sight lines, though particular attention has been given to the three most usual approaches. Hidden Charms provides a warm and intimate note in the echoing space.

Tommie Gallie

Tommie Gallie’s art practice focusses on the design and execution of site-specific three-dimensional installations. His custom-made sculpture for specific spaces/places approaches each space as unique, and tries to redefine, articulate or animate the space/place, be it public, private or commercial in nature. His intent is to draw the viewer conceptually and visually into the space. Gallie works primarily with wood, both for its aesthetic qualities and its diversity of uses.

Major commissions include “Child’s Play”, a large sculpture commission produced in collaboration with Robert Iveson. It was commissioned for the City of Saskatoon’s Centennial and was the result of a national competition. $65,000.00 was awarded to produce and install the piece in Kinsmen Park, Saskatoon.

In 1978, Gallie was one of eight visual artists selected in a province-wide competition to participate in the Commonwealth Games Visual Art Project. Projects include commissions for Nu-West Development Corporation, Edmonton, Edmonton Catholic School Board, Kelowna City Hall and Okanogan College, Kelowna. He was featured in Kelowna’s International Festival of the Arts Sculpture Symposium in 1986 and has participated in numerous exhibitions across Canada and the United States.

Tommie Gallie holds a BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and a Master of Visual Arts degree from the University of Alberta, he also attended the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts.

Churchill LRT Station Pedway

Hidden Charms

About

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