[!heartofnewwest2.jpg](http://canadiandesignresource.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/heartofnewwest2.jpg)[!heartofnewwest.jpg](http://canadiandesignresource.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/heartofnewwest.jpg) Spending alot of time as pedestrian in a city gives one the opportunity to see the world from a unique perspective. For me, its key to finding inspiration, and understanding my environmental surroundings. I often encounter these thought-provoking stenciled graphics around Calgary and I’m not sure how to interpret them. Obviously, its no secret we produce oil out here in the West. In fact the backbone of our economy depends heavily on the Oil and gas industry. On one hand I see some tongue-in-cheek humour in these images, and on the other, there is an honesty that says: “the New West _is_ driven by oil”…. Whether that is good or bad thing, this debate it is very much a part of being Albertan- particularly here in Calgary. -Greg Ball