ARTISAN GARDENS
The Artisan Gardens and The Branded Patio at The Bow Valley Ranche in Fish Creek Provincial Park offer an innovative way to create your legacy in perpetuity.
The extremely popular Native Gardens features within, The Artisan Gardens and Branded Patio, adjacent to the Bow Valley Ranche. A true art gallery in nature, the Gardens, open year-round, is comprised of 175 works of art by 75 artists.
Well-known Canadian artists Robert Bateman, Vilem Zack, Jeff de Boer, Paul Van Ginkel and Derek Besant have rendered their works in bronzes, mosaics, collages, oil and acrylics.
In an amphitheatre style setting, The Artisan Gardens presents 72 framed original art works as anchors of benches. All the original art pieces celebrate three main themes: First Nations, Family and the natural surroundings of the Park. As a sponsor, your legacy will be visible, in perpetuity on a beautiful brushed stainless-steel plaque, displaying your name, the artist and the title of the piece. Each sponsor receives a 1/1 limited addition framed piece of their art as a gift.
The 24 arrowhead shaped Crowns to each art monolith, elegantly displays a corporate brand, including name and logo or recognition of your family. Sponsors also receive a limited addition framed print of the historic Ranche House.
The Branded Patio, located directly behind The Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant grand salon, features 87 mosaic stepping stones, handcrafted by Bragg Creek artist, Pamela Rodger. Arranged in the shape of a wagon wheel reflecting a bygone era, these personalized mosaics tell your story. Seven of the mosaics display history of the more than 25 brands used by cattle rancher Pat Burns.
The Branded Patio celebrates not only history, but also families. Many of the stones illustrate family values ranging from antique trucks and cars to dragonflies to significant quotes creating a very personal ambiance to the Patio.
Visitors from many different places feel that The Ranche is a special place. As Mary Madeline White says, “The Bow Valley Ranche is a huge part of the history of our city and probably too few of our new citizens know about it. This was the meeting place and social center for people who played a part in Calgary’s history, The Calgary Stampede, Business development etc.”
J. Remple speaks to the historical relevance of the area,” Walking through the Ranche gardens provides an incredible feeling of connection to the rich history of this Valley. I am in awe of the dedication of those who have contributed so much to honouring and celebrating this unique place. I consider myself fortunate to be part of something so important, especially on those days when I can join other volunteers and pick weeds from the Native Gardens. That, to me, so beautifully represents the culmination of years’ worth of volunteer legacy.”
All levels of Sponsorship offer recognition in perpetuity, a charitable tax receipt, as well as invitations to special events hosted by The Ranche at Fish Creek Restoration Society.
Celebrate your legacy and have the satisfaction that you have helped to insure the future of The Historical Bow Valley Ranche.
Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society
Larry Wasyliw (President and Fund Chairperson)
Phone: 403) 460-1374 ext. 20 Email info@bowvalleyranche.com.
Website: www.bowvalleyranche.com
EGG MONEY
The bronze sculpture honors the spirit of Pioneer Women was the very first installation of Art in the Native Gardens. It is impossible to imagine the inner strength of these courageous women, who not only coped with the challenges of homesteading, but in many cases also had to deal with sadness and grief. These heroic women were truly remarkable individuals who made a lasting imprint in the building of our great Heritage.
Income in those early days was used to finance the operations of the homestead, resulting in the farm wife having no funds to call her own. Consequently, she turned to her feathered friends to remedy the situation. The income received from the sale of eggs was hers to do with as she wished, and it contributed to her sense of independence-something for the farm house, a gift for her dear friend, a special dress- the list was endless.
Members of The Ranche at Fish Creek Restoration Society felt that some type of memorial should be erected to honor these valiant women Egg Money, a timeless tribute to these special women. Donations were received from across Canada and the United States in support of Egg Money. These contributions evidenced the widespread respect and admiration held for these pioneer women.
CHILDREN OF YESTERDAY
Villem Zach's bronze statue of a woman and her two children is meant to recognize the traditional lands of the Blackfoot and Métis people in this area. The sculpture was unveiled on December 10, 2010.
The woman watches her step carefully as she descends from the hill behind her. One child is by her side, while the other is bundled on her back.
This sculpture is part of the Artisan Corner in the Native Gardens, located in Fish Creek Provincial Park's Bow Valley Ranch area. It was the second bronze artwork to be unveiled
Vilem Zach was born on October 23,1946 in Prague, Czech Republic. Where he had spent numerous years studying art. Finding life unrewarding under communist rule, he left his homeland in 1969 and moved to Canada.
Once in Canada, Vilem was able to transform his passion of art into a full-time profession, realizing his dream of painting the North American Indian and their culture. With each painting he strives for a high standard of accuracy and feeling. His work also consists of candid, yet detailed paintings of the western heritage. After his experience with working on canvas he decided to experiment with three dimensional bronze sculptures, for which he is now internationally recognized.
Currently residing in Calgary, Alberta, Vilem has exhibited with the world-famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede since 1977. Many of his life size statues and heroic size monuments can be seen at numerous tourist attractions, and in private collections.
Vilem Zach definitely earned his standing with the bronze sculpture works of the famous and the elite artisans both past and present.
WALKING BUFFALO (George Mclean) 1871 - 1967
Chief and Medicine man, Walking Buffalo was a man of nature, and a searcher of truth. He was a man devoted to peace, and promoting the spirituality of his people. Living at a critical time in Western Canada, Chief Walking Buffalo witnessed the disappearance of the bison, the building of the CPR and the evolution of tribal lands into provinces. He was a wise man whose words hold truth for people of all nationalities and color.
CHILDREN OF YESTERDAY
Villem Zach's bronze statue of a woman and her two children is meant to recognize the traditional lands of the Blackfoot and Métis people in this area. The sculpture was unveiled on December 10, 2010.
The woman watches her step carefully as she descends from the hill behind her. One child is by her side, while the other is bundled on her back.
This sculpture is part of the Artisan Corner in the Native Gardens, located in Fish Creek Provincial Park's Bow Valley Ranch area. It was the second bronze artwork to be unveiled
Vilem Zach was born on October 23,1946 in Prague, Czech Republic. Where he had spent numerous years studying art. Finding life unrewarding under communist rule, he left his homeland in 1969 and moved to Canada.
Once in Canada, Vilem was able to transform his passion of art into a full-time profession, realizing his dream of painting the North American Indian and their culture. With each painting he strives for a high standard of accuracy and feeling. His work also consists of candid, yet detailed paintings of the western heritage. After his experience with working on canvas he decided to experiment with three dimensional bronze sculptures, for which he is now internationally recognized.
Currently residing in Calgary, Alberta, Vilem has exhibited with the world-famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede since 1977. Many of his life size statues and heroic size monuments can be seen at numerous tourist attractions, and in private collections.
Vilem Zach definitely earned his standing with the bronze sculpture works of the famous and the elite artisans both past and present.
David Crowchild 1899 – 1982
Chief David Crowchild was known as a goodwill ambassador promoting/creating strong relations between the Sarcee Nation and Calgarians. Recognizing the need to preserve his culture and the spirit of his ancestors, David was successful at creating jobs on the reserve and pushing for the education of his people. He is one of the first Chiefs to send First Nations children to Calgary public schools.
He was well known as a wise leader who increased the acceptance of First Nations in and around Calgary.
SEVEN by Donna Wilson
There is a balance both in esthetics and in symbolism to the number seven. I have chosen to create seven nearly identical Bull Trout in a school for The Ranche at Fish Creek. We chose the Provincial fish of Alberta, the Bull Trout for several reasons. They are native to these waters and have been reintroduced after near extinction. They are now enjoying a comeback with the protection of Wildlife Resources. Anglers can see signs now stating, "No black, put it back," in waters that have been stocked with these handsome fish.
The Bull Trout can symbolize the never-ending quest for balance. As humans we drastically impact the environment around us, sometimes irreparably. To honor and restore that which has been thrown out of balance is one of our most important tasks. My hope is that our trout remind us all to do our part in protecting and respecting our precious landscape, our sparkling waters and the beautiful province in which we live.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CABALLO By Martinez Arts Inc. Tijuana Mexico
Caballo was originally intended to honor William Roper Hull when in 1883 William Roper Hulland his brother, John Roper Hull were driving 1,200 head of horses from Kamloops via the Crowsnest Pass to Calgary. Impressed with the country, they decided to become permanent residents. First securing a contract with the Canadian Pacific Railways to be the sole suppliers of beef to the railway gangs in British Columbia, they quickly expanded their operation until they had a chain of fifteen butcher shops. Needing facilities for finishing cattle for slaughter, they offered to buy the 4,000-acre Government Supply Farm - as the Bow Valley Ranche was then called - for a rumored price of $30,000.
It took over 3 months to collect over 1,000 horse shoes from local Mexican ranchers to make up Caballo
On the passing of Mitzie Wasyliw, in Oct. 2014 Caballo was dedicated in her honor.
October 17th, 2014
Dedicated in loving memory to the spirit of Mitzie Wasyliw, co-founder of Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your passion, dedication, smile and zest for life will remain eternally embedded in my heart - I know you are dancing with the Angels"
Your Loving Soulmate
Larry Wasyliw
AAGOSTKIM by David Trevelyan
Blackfoot word meaning Receive
This statute was unveiled in Sept. 2017 in paying respect to the Blackfoot Nation and reflecting a very strong spiritual significance to all peoples of the earth.
David Trevelyan was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on November 13, 1955. From an early age David developed a fascination with local Native Indian arts, particularly masks, which he began to carve from wood. He now focusing on the pure design, energy and forms of ethnic design using contemporary <POP> expressions, he continues to explore, innovate and build original creations from this seemingly unlimited reservoir.
