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Public art can be an attraction and an incentive for selfies; it can be a destination when one is intrigued by its creation, but it always has meaning for the artist.

Often you have to think about what the artist’s intention is. Fifty per cent of the art is created by the artist and the other 50 per cent is up to the viewer. It’s always been that way, since the beginning of time.

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But public art is more than something to see, to think about or to create a “vibe” about a place. It contributes to the economy.

Artists are small, independent business owners who raise their families, such as Jeff de Boer, Doug Driediger, Caitlind Brown and others. Ten per cent of the price for a piece of art goes to the artist while the other 90 per cent goes directly into Calgary’s local economy for materials, fabrication and installation.

Public art spawns amazing new companies like Heavy Industries and MetalFab, for example.