Jonathan Monfries
CANOPY
sponsored by Stantec
Churchill Square
CANOPY was launched at the Works Art & Design Festival in 2023.
Jonathan Monfries, CANOPY, Sponsored by Stantec, photo by M. Andony.
Artist Statement
Diverse arts programming inherently brings communities together, becoming a destination for the city and providing opportunity for artistic expression from a variety of cultures. Jonathan Monfries’ installations promote the local artistic community by serving as playful amenity contributions to the public realm that anyone of any age, culture, and ability can interact with and appreciate.
Art and architecture can be used as a platform to create community and support the wellbeing of residents. By taking the perspective of the artist, one is able to understand the cultural approach to design, and how design serves not only functional and aesthetic purposes, but also the numerous aspects that are open to one’s own interpretation. What design features contribute to culture, history, and symbolism of the site and context it occupies?
By designing interactive art installations that contribute to successful urban environments, the art engages with people who may not typically engage with art. Monfries’ installations consider the psychological impacts of public art and how our mental wellbeing can be influenced by the static objects in the public realm. In a city like Edmonton, art needs to exist for everyone to enjoy at any time of year with our changing climate. By considering how an art installation can be deployed in an architectural manner, we are better able to understand both aesthetic and functional properties to contribute to a successful public realm.
about the artist
Jonathan Monfries is an urbanist, designer, and artist from Edmonton. His design passion is merging art with architecture, and this is manifested through his professional work as an Intern Architect as well as personal works of art installations throughout Alberta.
Monfries’ main interest is in the activations of the public realm — seeking the value in how the urban environment has an influence on our mental wellbeing. His past installations include a variety of wooden projects designed using parametric modelling that enable the designer to truly customize the form to suit the required purpose. These methods challenge the properties of the material to provide artistic qualities that serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose.