Opening Ceremonies of the XV Olympic Winter Games, Calgary 1988
Commemorative mixed-media photograph or print montage on paper with metal plaque • Commissioned by the Calgary Olympic Organizing Committee (OCO'88) and TransAlta Utilities
Style & Movement
Late 20th-century Sports Commemorative / Documentary Photography
Medium & Technique
Photographic print (likely offset lithography or a similar commercial printing process) featuring a high-angle aerial view, custom-mounted with a brass-tone identification plaque on a dark gray mat.
Creation Period
Circa 1988
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 14 inches (framed); Portrait-oriented frame containing a vertical landscape-oriented image.
Subject Description
An aerial depiction of McMahon Stadium during the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. The composition features athletes and performers arranged to form the Olympic rings and a stylized snowflake/sun motif. The color palette is dominated by white, blue, and various bright colors from the performers' costumes against the stadium floor.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; there is visible slipping of the print within the matting and minor surface wear on the frame.
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 USD
Auction Estimate
$40 - $100 USD
Provenance History
Likely a corporate gift or limited-edition commemorative piece presented by TransAlta Utilities (an Olympic sponsor) to employees or stakeholders; bears a price tag suggesting recent secondary market circulation.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the intersection between corporate sponsorship and large-scale public spectacle in the 1980s. Its significance is primarily historical and nostalgic within the context of Canadian sports history and the 1988 Calgary Games.
Notable Features
Includes a distinctive brass plaque with the Calgary '88 logo and TransAlta/TEAM PETROLEUM branding; also bears an original retail/thrift price sticker in the lower right corner.
Condition Issues
Mechanical shifting of the artwork within the mat, possible fading due to UV exposure, and minor scratches on the metallic frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Acid-free remounting to stabilize the image; replacement of standard glass with UV-filtering acrylic to prevent further color degradation.