The Centre City Banner Program – Jarett Sitter (2021 – 2022) Banners in the city’s core The Project Jarett Sitter (2021 – 2022) When Jarett first began the process for the banner project, he was thinking a lot about Alberta wildlife and the different environments they live in. As the year 2020 went on, things got weirder, quarantines went into effect and people became more isolated. It became increasingly important to him to create something that could bring a sense of happiness to people who would see the banners. On my summer walks, the city banners were some of the few pieces of art I’d get to see. I hope these banners bring a source of joy and a reminder of some of the things that we love, while you discover new details over multiple viewings. Besides the friends and family we couldn’t see during the pandemic, the things Jarett missed the most were art and live music. He decided to make the animals as a sort of band. Each animal plays their respective instrument in their own “home” environments: the prairies, the mountains, a lake, etc., all creating beautiful music together, for themselves and each other. The Project The Centre City Banner Program engages local artists to create artwork for banners displayed on light poles and bridges leading into the core, acting as gateways to Calgary’s downtown and cultural district. Artists develop original artworks that consider the multiple contexts of the city of Calgary, and celebrate our cultures, communities, histories, geography and diversity. Artists are selected by an independent jury. Display periods last for approximately one year. For over a decade, the banner program has transformed Calgary’s gateway bridges into open-air galleries for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. For more background on the Centre City Banner program, see the City of Calgary’s website here. To see the current Centre City Banners, visit the project page. Title: The Centre City Banner Program – Jarett Sitter (2021 – 2022) Project Completion: 2022 Medium: Banners Location: Downtown Calgary About the Artist About the Artist Jarett works as a full-time freelance illustrator/animator. He currently sits as a board member for Quickdraw Animation Society in Calgary. His inspiration comes from skateboarding graphics, music, album covers, and Saturday morning cartoons. He plays with these nostalgic elements to create unique worlds. His illustrations and live-action animation can be described as creepy and playful, with elements of softness and manic absurdity. He creates a world with no explanation and brings strange characters to life. These misfit characters follow their own narrative to embrace small moments of discovery and the childish curiosity of exploration. Jarett has contributed animation and post-production work for Juno Award and Much Music Video Award nominated music videos. He also illustrated the music cover issue of Believer Magazine in 2018. View more of Jarett’s work on his website jaretts.com.
