Regina Gateway

The Regina Gateway is a monumental public artwork that acts as a gateway into the city of Regina, Canada. This sculpture is aligned precisely north-south along the main artery skirting the edge of the city, and is comprised of 17 sculpted monolithic forms that rise and fall sequentially across the landscape in a sweeping arc. Made from powder-coated and mirror polished steel, it is configured to capture the ever-changing sky and delineate the sun’s path. Each of the 17 forms is set at a unique angle in order to project dynamic, rhythmic patterns of shadows on the ground. These extend long across the snow in winter and retract towards spring until, at the summer solstice, no shadow is cast. The sculpture’s shape is derived from First Nations’ culture, specifically from the area’s origins as a valued water source that aboriginal bison hunters would mark with piles of bones. The shape thus alludes both to the bison’s skeletal spine and to the breadth of the great prairie sky and its encompassing horizon. Designed to be viewed from afar, the piece has also been conceived as a sculptural form upon which pedestrians, especially children, may safely sit or climb where it sweeps close to the ground. A permanent plaque provides information on the work’s significance.