Town of Banff

Public Art in Banff

Mountain Camp by sculptor Susan Detwiler (2008)

The most recent addition to Banff's collection of public art is the sculptural installation Mountain Camp, by Susan Detwiler.

Mountain Camp consists of five cast bronze sculptures representing an historic campsite. A pair of moccasins, a cowboy hat, and saddlebag in life-sized scale and exquisite detail lie on large boulder slabs around a bronze campfire and old coffee-pot.

The camp could have looked just like one that pioneers in the Rockies may have used. It’s easy to imagine David Thompson, John Palliser, or Bill Peyto sitting here and warming their feet by the fire, sharing stories with their native guides. The work is designed to attract passers-by to sit amongst the pieces to rest and chat with each other, just as a cozy campsite would.

You can see and enjoy Mountain Camp at the "Safeway Parkette" on Banff Avenue. This is the small park at the corner of Banff Avenue and Elk Street, at the north end of Banff’s busy downtown core.

Mountain Camp was the winner of Banff's 2008 Public Art Project.

Mistahiya, Thunderbird and Sleeping Buffalo: granite sculptures by Stewart Steinhauer, 2000

The Ravens, by Eric Robertson. Installed in 2005 in Banff World Heritage Square

Four ravens watch passers-by from their elevated perches in Banff Avenue Park, courtesy of artist Eric Robertson. The sculptures of these creative and intelligent birds symbolize the connection between Banff’s urban landscape and the natural landscape of the national park in which Banff resides.