Pehonan (Notre Ville/This City)
Public Art & Community Engagement
A community public art project that explores themes about Edmonton written in a tri-lingual poem (Cree, French and English). Leading the visual art with artist AJA Louden, we developed a process for illustrating the poem and community contributions into a series of hand-painted (text and image) murals.
This 24 m artwork was created on panels, each installed with a frame of the poem, transforming an otherwise ordinary pedestrian corridor in the downtown. The visuals, textures and languages celebrate a diversity of perspectives and the poetry to be read and experienced as the authors intended.
Mural panels (24 m) in a public walkway
Sculptural mural with Cree/French/English poetry
Sculptural pieces and three languages
Detail of hand lettering and poetry frame
CLD design for community engagement promo
'Catching Words" community engagement
Community of folks busy contributing ideas
Community engagement record and visuals
Content from the community engagement
We activated community ideas into our illustrations
Clay in studio routering panel
Clay hand finishing a panel in the studio
AJA hand-painting river with massive studio brush
Night installation process in ped-way
Panel detailing mixed media and hand-lettering
Assemblage of birch panels with Cree text
Studio sample of poetry frame (Paper, acrylic medium and wood)
Project booklet of the full poem in Cree, French & English
Sample spread of the poetry
Painting by AJA Louden & Clay Lowe with work from Matthew Auger Cardinal, Lana Whiskeyjack, Micky Pop and Daena Crosby.
Poem by Pierrette Requier with Cree Poetry by Naomi McIlwraith, proofread by Dorothy Thunder. Correctrice de texte en français, Josée Thibeault.
Visit AJA’s portfolio to learn more about this community public art project.