Arts on the Avenue
Featuring over 45 pieces of art with pictures, history, and info
Click here to print the PDF at home to do your own self-guided art tour
or click here to visit the map on MapHub.
New public art on International Avenue showcases the stories of people living and working in the Greater Forest Lawn area. The BRZ office was proud to advocate for this much-needed art for the community which resulted in public art dollars being injected into the redesign of the street. Eleven local artists, each with a connection to the area, collaborated with surrounding communities to work on 5 site-specific artworks between 26 St and Hubalta Road. BRT murals were completed by local individual artists showcasing the incredible talent throughout the community. All artwork on the Max Purple BRT line is themed toward what International Avenue is best known for...FOOD!
International Avenue Murals
The International Avenue BRZ launched a mural project in 2001 to celebrate the community and all it has to offer, called the International Avenue Mural Society. The project has seen and will continue to see the installation of murals along International Avenue (17 Ave. S.E.), reflecting our community’s history and cultural diversity. The murals being located within the community to be a source of pride for local residents and visitors to the area.
Mural #1
Life in the Village of
Forest Lawn
A historical painting depicting life in the village of Forest Lawn. The completed mural is 8 x 20 feet in size.
Location: 3111 – 17 Avenue SE
Artist: Eldon Walls
Year: 2001
Mural #2
Dance in the Minho
The BRZ commissioned another mural for completion in late summer of 2002. This was celebrating Calgary’s Portuguese community entitled Dance in the Minho. His completed art mural is six by 18 feet in size painted on an Alucobond panel.
Location: 3245 – 17 Avenue S.E.
Artist: Martinho Correia
Year: 2002
Mural #3
Tet Flower Fair
This 8 x 20′ mural celebrates the Vietnamese community in Calgary. The art piece illustrates the hustle and bustle of a flower market in Vietnam before the new year.
Location: 2889 – 17 Avenue S.E.
Artist: Thang Quinn Quoc Do
Year: 2004
Mural #4
Rhythms of the Caribbean
This piece celebrates the Caribbean community. The 8 x 20′ beautiful art piece is available for viewing on the ATB Financial building located at 3620 17 Avenue SE. Special thanks to the Community Standards Fund and the City of Calgary
Location: 3620 17 Avenue S.E.
Artist: Carol Nelson-Melesko
Year: 2005
Mural #5
An Allegory of Peace in Our Time
This piece celebrates the hope for peace among all nations, races and religions. The 8 x 16′ work incorporates a recurring figure of Peace. Special thanks to the International Avenue merchants, the Alberta Lotteries Fund, Community & Neighbourhood Services East Calgary office, and Top made Plastics and Neon Signs.
Location: 4015 – 17 Ave SE.
Artist: Martinho Correia
Year: 2009
Mural #6
Dance at the Ishtar Gate
This piece is dedicated to the Arabic Community. Artist Iman consulted with Calgary’s Arab community to determine the best subject matter for the painting. Dance at the Ishtar Gate features the Babylonian Ishtar Gate, constructed in 546BC and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the worldSpecial thanks to the Community Initiatives Program- Alberta Government, Dr. Giad, Dr. Ismael and Family and Dr. Karim and Family for their donations to the project.
Location: 4835 17 Avenue S.E.
Artist: Iman Omar Al-Bustani
Year: 2011
Mural #7
Dances and the Lessons from Mother Earth
This piece is dedicated to the peoples of Treaty 7 including the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Ĩyãħé Nakoda, Tsuu T’ina and the Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3. This piece was created by Métis artist Raymond Lambert, with consultation from other indigenous community members, to celebrate First Nations and Métis culture.
Location: 5328 17 Avenue SE
Artist: Raymond Lambert
Year: 2012
Mural #8:
Bandierai degli Uffizi (Flagwavers of the Uffizi)
Artist Martinho Correia unveiled his Italian-inspired mural in May 2015. This mural was made possible by the support from International Avenue Mural Society, International Avenue BRZ, Calgary Arts Development, 12CSI, ATB Financial – Forest Lawn, The Italian Cultural Club of Calgary, EMCOR Development Corp. and Spolumbo’s. The mural was mounted in early February 2016 and it is located on the west side of the Far East Foods building.
Location: 26 Street SE (Far East Foods)
Artist: Martinho Correia
Year: 2015
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Mural #9
Celebration
Sisay Shimeles’ four-metre by five-metre mural celebrates the City of Calgary’s east African community. His work reflects a symmetry that exists between Ethiopia, where he was born, with countries like Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia and Kenya. This mural was sponsored by: Boardwalk Equities and the BRZ
Location: 36 Street SE – On the East Side of the CIBC Bank Building
Artist: Sisay Shimeles
Year: 2015
Mural #10
Meet Me in the Park
The 10th International Avenue mural is dedicated to the Greater Forest Lawn community. “This community has seen generations upon generations of kids connecting at the skating rink. Along with the other murals on International Avenue it’s another celebration of our heritage and a reminder of the great community that we live and work in – a community where everyone is welcome.” Sponsored by Tim Hortons
Location: 4750 17 Avenue SE – On the South Side of the Tim Hortons Building
Artist: Lyse Deselliers
Year: 2017
Mural #11
Peace
Installed in 2018, this 8′ x 12′ mural is a creation of artist Elsie Stein (1931-2019). Elsie came to Calgary in the 1970’s to attend ACAD and, shortly after graduating, married and moved to Okotoks where she raised her family and spent her time painting. Elsie, who was resident of Dover when she passed, was generous enough to allow us to place her work on display. When you pass this mural, think of Elsie.
Location: 4520 17 Avenue SE – East side of the building
Artist: Elsie Stein
Year: 2018
MORE COMING SOON
Murals and more....
Community Arts Organizations
Antyx Community Arts
Antyx is a community arts company that uses the arts and community development processes to create opportunities for youth to become more engaged in their community and experience increased community connection.
International Avenue Arts and Culture Centre
International Avenue Arts & Culture Centre (IAACC) was founded in 2001. IAACC is a not for profit charitable organization with a long-term goal to advocate for the City to built a state of the art performance facility for the betterment of Greater Forest Lawn (GFL). IAACC is designed to support artist led projects, to aide in the promotion of the arts and assist local artists (or those connected to GFL) with opportunities within the arts. They created the Calgary Multicultural Youth Orchestra and funded it for ten years. Now it is an independent orchestra which is self sustainably focused.