Whistlejacket by Deborah Butterfield, Jasper Avenue

This is Whistlejacket by Deborah Butterfield on Jasper Avenue, Edmonton. I removed the crushed diet coke can from the jaws right before I snapped this photo. I suppose that's one way to interact with public art. The "under video surveillance" sign has been mangled somewhat, but the sculpture, made from found steel, is no worse for wear. I've long admired Butterfield's horses and have spent hours looking at this book on her. Jane Smiley says this in the intro: "I have never met a horse lover who did not gasp at the truth of Butterfield's horses."

Running errands yesterday we dropped into the coffee shop next to the sculpture. I've been asked a few times lately while shopping, where I'm from, or "are you from here?" Maybe when you spend a lot of time alone in your room you start to look like you're from somewhere else. While we were taking these shots I heard someone say in a surprised tone, tourists! That's an Edmonton thing I think. I mean, we like it here, but can't help but be surprised anyone would find much to recommend it. In fact, we're pretty hard on ourselves, so it would seem.