WebStamp May 16, 2018

The Joy of Public Art

While we are in the Calgary Municipal Building exploring The Bears sculpture we will head north inside and discover a sculpture created by the well-renowned Canadian sculptor Roy Leadbeater. Roy is best known for the 28-foot “Kinetic Sculpture” with moving parts created for the Four Western Provinces Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal. Also created by Roy is the abstract human form sculpture poised as its gracefully dancing in the Calgary Municipal Building foyer.

The bronze sculpture, known as “Joy” is one of many of Mr. Leadbeater’s art that is exhibited around Calgary. We find “Balancing Act” just south of the Triangle Gallery attached to the municipal building, the “Pieces of Eight” at the Nickle Arts Museum at the U of C, and Calgary Plus 15 Art - "Synergy". We also can find many of his artistic works in Alberta’s Capital, where he passed away last year on May 09 at the age of 89.

Joy is reminiscent of Roy’s abstract bronze sculpture works later in life. The vitality and sense of movement with two raised arms convey exuberance and joy. Depth is given to the large central torso and appendages with detailed undercutting darker areas reflecting against the highly burnished metallic surface. The sculpture portrays enjoyment with the rhythm life.

Roy Leadbeater’s creative talent will live on through his sculptures and paintings that are widely exhibited in Canada as commissioned work in public spaces, many of which are displayed in Edmonton and Calgary, where he resided as a successful and accomplished artist. Roy's work is also displayed in many private collections and galleries across the Globe. "One of the great advantages of being in the arts, or anything creative, is that you never run out of ideas. What you run out of is time." Roy was known to say. He was happiest in life being creative with his sculpting or painting.

There are many public art projects in Calgary that vary in style, some even with controversy. Enjoy this Sculpture “JOY” and the many more Calgary has to offer. Subscribe for Free and we will notify you when each new issue is published so you can discover all the great Calgary’s public art that we write about.

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Marinus (René) Verschuren

Founder of WebStamp

René has been involved in the publishing and printing industry since the 1970s. He has published and distributed a successful 24-page weekly news advertiser with a circulation of 4400 copies. Also for the last 20 years, he has been a printer, plotter, scanner and 3D printer technician and installer. Since High School, he also has worked as a janitor, cabinet maker, building construction, landscaper/designer, computer operator producing microfiche, graphic artist, and webmaster, among many other professions. This qualifies him as a Jack-of-All-Trades with plenty of knowledge in many subjects.

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The Joy of Public Art

Discover a sculpture created by the well-renowned Canadian sculptor Roy Leadbeater, JOY. The abstract human form sculpture poised as its gracefully dancing in the Calgary Municipal Building foyer.

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