May 16, 2018
Happy Wall, an internationally loved pixel art installation, will help keep Sir Winston Churchill Square a hub of activity for people while it is impacted by Valley Line LRT development and other rehabilitation projects.
“We want people to know that even though there’s work going on, Churchill Square is still a welcoming, vibrant, active, destination for Edmontonians and visitors,” said Tannia Franke, Civic Precinct Supervisor with the City of Edmonton. “When heading to the Art Gallery of Alberta, Winspear Centre, Citadel Theatre, or TIX on the Square, we hope people will stop by Happy Wall to play and add their own message or picture.”
The installation is in place from May 2018 to May 2019.
Created by Copenhagen artist
Thomas Dambo, Happy Wall inspires self-expression from those who come in contact with it. The interactive public art installation is 17 metres long and covered with 1,040 coloured panels of reclaimed wood that can be flipped to create images or phrases. Edmonton is the first city in Canada to host a Happy Wall. Dambo’s Happy Wall, which was crafted in 2014 to revitalize construction sites, has been installed in Denmark, Chile, Brazil and the United States.
“Dambo is an internationally renowned artist with a penchant for placemaking projects — animating unexpected or transitional spaces across the globe with his upcycled art installations,” said Bob Rasko, Sir Winston Churchill Square Programmer for the Edmonton Arts Council. “That’s why Happy Wall was a perfect fit to bring some colour and energy to Sir Winston Churchill Square during construction. We can’t wait to see the creative messages and images that Edmontonians dream up over the next year, and share with the hashtag #Happywall.”
The Edmonton Arts Council, in partnership with the City of Edmonton, programs activities in Sir Winston Churchill Square for casual and day-to-day public use. Monday to Friday programming includes large-format chess and checkers games, basketball and ping-pong.
Food trucks are on the Square Monday to Friday to serve up delectable offerings to lunchtime crowds.
Three Bananas Cafė and
L’Espresso Cafė remain open during construction. The Square features live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m.
To take transit to Sir Winston Churchill Square, visit
takeETS.com for route and schedule information.
