Photo from The Designer Toy Store

Although I wasn’t initially familiar with the name “Frank Kozik”, the mustachioed rabbits, er labbits, that have been appearing around town did seem familiar. Around a year ago I was introduced to Kozik’s work through some of the design sites that I visit on a daily basis, but forgot about the showcase of his work, which included his labbits. Thanks to a Medicine Hat Media commentator we now know that the rabbits that were appearing around town were not your average rabbits, they were labbits by Frank Kozik.

Frank Kozik is not a Canadian, and possibly has never even been to the Hat, let alone Alberta. So I’m kind of breaking the mold a little bit here by doing a non-Alberta/Medicine Hat related Art Exposure edition. But a fan of his work lives in this city, and out of whatever motivation spray paints his iconic labbits around town. Why? Boredom? The thrill? Either way, I like it because it is a form of expression different from the typical gang-graffiti that loses itself in its esoteric representation – the labbits, on the other hand, represent something visual and iconic. But let me backtrack a little bit: I am not condoning graffiti in any way, shape, or form. All that I am saying is that I see more merit in this type of graffiti than the standard swear word/gang signature. It is still vandalism and will still get removed, there’s no way around that.

Click here to check our previous “Rabbits with Moustaches” post

After researching numerous Albertan artists to be the subject of the second edition of Medicine Hat Media’s Art Exposure, I decided to write about the well known roadside landmarks found across Canada.

Saamis Teepee by Roadside Attractions

Although many of these statues, buildings, and other structures are often whimsical, confusing, or even straight up bizarre, the creators of these landmarks are extremely talented individuals. Fortunately, I  discovered a website already in existence, created by Ed Solonyka, entitled Roadside Attractions.

After exploring a little bit, I found the website has been online since 1998 and surprisingly, is updated fairly regularly, not that the outdated design gives any indication. The comprehensive updates can be found in the “What’s New” section of the website. So instead of planning a lengthy road trip across the country to witness the landmarks first hand you can take a leisurely stroll through the site to see the strange things Canadian towns are “famous” for (but a roadtrip would be far more fun).

Roadside Attractions can be found in numerous ways on their website, including by provincial location, alphabetical listing and by category. There is even a “Wanted” list with what attraction they want a picture of and where it can be found. As Hatters, we can all proudly gaze upon the Saamis Teepee while browsing the site, so no worries about being left out of the fun.

RoadsideAttractions.ca displays it longevity with the myriad of awards it has earned (back when Internet awards meant something), all of which are pre-2003. Unfortunately, many awards, such as “The Canadian Advantage Web Award” and the “Canuck’s Choice Award” link to broken websites, many of which were issued from the now defunct Geocities.

Despite the dated layout and graphics of RoadsideAttractions.ca, it still offers the most comprehensive list of any large scale attraction (like the giant Easter Egg in Vegreville) that you will see in Canada.

http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/

Last week I came up with the idea to try to expose Hatters to the wide world of media by doing more than merely reporting on the current media happenings in Southeastern Alberta. So, I present to you, Art Exposure, a semimonthly post that will attempt to bring attention to local media focusing on art, and also media that has either historic significance or that we think is just really cool. Feedback would be greatly appreciated, let us know if you think this is an awesome idea, or something better left in the recesses of my brain.

Tour at The Medalta from Medalta.org

To kick things off I wanted to bring a focus to a part of Medicine Hat’s history that I think is under appreciated: the Historic Clay District. Once home to one of the most important clay factories in Canada, this 150 acre area is now home to a museum aimed at informing Hatters of their industrial heritage. Medalta Potteries, Hycroft China, National Porcelain and Alberta Clay Products were once responsible for producing 75% of Canada’s clay products and now aim to educate visitors through interactive tours displaying the main implements used to create clay products.

The success of the Clay District is due in part to the easy access to both natural gas to fuel the kilns, and the clay, which was taken from the hills directly behind the factory. The expansive railway lines that have connected the Gas City to the rest of Canada since the late 1800’s also triggered the success of Medicine Hat’s industry. This “perfect storm” of resources allowed for a booming and prosperous industry to take hold. Rudyard Kipling even said Medicine Hat had “all Hell for a basement” when he witnessed the city’s immense success and the industrious people that made it happen.

Throughout the months of September to May the museum is open from 10:00 to 4:00 from Tuesday through Saturday. However, they will be closed for the holidays from December 18 to January 4. Admission fees can be found on the website listed below, as well as information regarding booking guided tours. Although it has been years since I have been on a museum tour, I remember enjoying my visits as a kid. I highly recommend supporting this fascinating historic site and learning about the city we call home.

http://www.medalta.org/