Here and there throughout major cities you’ll find sculptures, statues, fountains, commemorative plaques and other works of art that are quite decorative. They beautify the urban environment, while amusing or enlightening both residents and visitors. Summer has arrived in Ottawa, and with it the thousands of tourists who come to admire Canada’s capital and revel in three solid months of festivals. Thanks to federal and provincial governments and the National Capital Commission, as well as the generosity of businesses and private individuals, there is also much more to enjoy. Ottawa is well endowed with outdoor art, representing all forms of esthetic tastes: in this, the first of four articles, we’ll look at only a sampling of the creations that are decorative, eclectic and whimsical.