Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Canada Place - Vancouver, BC
This handsome wall hanging consists of small fabric squares stitched together to create a cityscape. It's on the walls of the lobby in Canada Place.
(The metal frame is bent because I stitched two photos together with my panorama-maker - in real life it's straight and true.)
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Whitehorse, Yukon
This striking cultural mural is from Whitehorse in the Yukon. It is on the Dana Naye Ventures Building at Black and 5th and was painted by ‘Colin.’
And no, I haven’t been to Whitehorse. But Samson Hartland has. He lives there. Find pictures of more Whitehorse murals on his blog Northern Light.
Virtual tour of Murals in Whitehorse
Virtual tour of Murals in Whitehorse II
Hat-tip: Rebecca
Photo credit: Samson Hartland - used with permission
Friday, September 22, 2006
Murals of Thomas Hart Benton - Jefferson City, Missouri
For the last 30+ years of his career, artist Thomas Hart Benton concentrated on painting murals in the public buildings of the midwest states.
Joyce of Quiet Life pointed me to his murals in the Missouri State Capitol, a series called "The Social History of the State of Missouri." They depict scenes from pioneer days and the history of politics, farming and the law. Three panels show local legends.
This scene, the first of those legend panels, shows Huck Finn and Jim, fishing in the Mississippi. In the background is a paddle boat with the name “Sam Clemens” (aka Mark Twain and Missouri’s most famous writer) written on the side.
More of those striking murals can be seen here.
Joyce of Quiet Life pointed me to his murals in the Missouri State Capitol, a series called "The Social History of the State of Missouri." They depict scenes from pioneer days and the history of politics, farming and the law. Three panels show local legends.
This scene, the first of those legend panels, shows Huck Finn and Jim, fishing in the Mississippi. In the background is a paddle boat with the name “Sam Clemens” (aka Mark Twain and Missouri’s most famous writer) written on the side.
More of those striking murals can be seen here.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Let's Party!
This playful mural brightens the side wall of a balloon and party supply store in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Terry Fox Monument - Thunder Bay, Ontario
When we were in Thunder Bay this summer we made a special trip to the Terry Fox Memorial. This monument, just outside Thunder Bay on Highway 1, is a few kilometers from the spot where Terry Fox discovered cancer had come back and was forced to give up his Marathon of Hope. (He started April 12, ended September 1, 1980. He ran 5,373 kilometers in 143 days on one leg and a prosthesis).
Tomorrow, September 17th, is the day of this year's official Terry Fox Run when people in cities all across Canada and the world run to raise money for cancer research and continue the project Terry started in 1980.
About Terry Fox
Terry's early years
Story of the original Marathon of Hope
Map of Terry's journey. Below that are excerpts from a journal he wrote along the way.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Watson Lake - Yukon
The town Watson Lake, Yukon is situated at Km. 1016.8 (Mile 635) of the Alaska Highway. The town is named after Frank Watson who set out at the age of 14 with his father to search for gold in the Yukon.
This gorgeous mural and details of it below show the gold-rush history of the Watson Lake area. The photos were taken by Donna whose family is traveling to a military posting in Alaska - Great pictures, Donna. Thank you!
I love the way the way the subject is painted in blues, superimposed on realistic green forest bits peeking through here and there. It gives the painting a dream quality and a sense of captured ghosts from the past.
This gorgeous mural and details of it below show the gold-rush history of the Watson Lake area. The photos were taken by Donna whose family is traveling to a military posting in Alaska - Great pictures, Donna. Thank you!
I love the way the way the subject is painted in blues, superimposed on realistic green forest bits peeking through here and there. It gives the painting a dream quality and a sense of captured ghosts from the past.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
A few from Thunder Bay, Ontario
I did a little mural-hunting on our recent trip to Thunder Bay (thanks to sister- and brother-in-law who drove us around!). Here is one we found on May Street, painted on the Rock-It Air Wear store. They sell custom-made gift ideas and screen printed clothing.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
White Rock B.C.
White Rock beach was where we took our walk on Saturday. It certainly still had that summer getaway feel to it.
This small mural depicting the White Rock beach front decorates the front of one of the Marine Drive eateries. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)
One of the many spirit bear statues found in various places around the lower mainland, is on the plaza in front of the old train station. It is part of the “Spirit Bears in the City” project.
The Spirit Bear is actually the Kermode Bear. This white bear is not a polar bear or an albino but a recessive gene black bear. These bears inhabit various parts of the rain forest in British Columbia and have been adopted by some as a symbol of British Columbia.
This small mural depicting the White Rock beach front decorates the front of one of the Marine Drive eateries. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)
One of the many spirit bear statues found in various places around the lower mainland, is on the plaza in front of the old train station. It is part of the “Spirit Bears in the City” project.
The Spirit Bear is actually the Kermode Bear. This white bear is not a polar bear or an albino but a recessive gene black bear. These bears inhabit various parts of the rain forest in British Columbia and have been adopted by some as a symbol of British Columbia.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Beachcomber Building
One of my favorite local murals is on the walls of the Beachcomber Hot Tubs building (134th St. and Comber Way in Surrey). I don’t remember when it went up – I’m thinking perhaps just before Y2K. I also don’t know the artist.
The mural consists of two walls of famous people. The west-facing wall is titled, "Beachcomber Salutes the Record Breakers."
The south-facing wall is called, "Beachcomber Salutes the Legends."
Now if only I could name them all!
The mural consists of two walls of famous people. The west-facing wall is titled, "Beachcomber Salutes the Record Breakers."
The south-facing wall is called, "Beachcomber Salutes the Legends."
Now if only I could name them all!
Why a mural blog?
For years I’ve had a fascination with murals. I love the audacious bigness of murals and the way their presence adds interest and splendor to an ordinary street.
I also love observing the subject matter of murals, which is wide-ranging. Some are symbolic. Others tell a story or focus on a community’s historical events. Still others border on propaganda or advertising.
People put them up for a variety of reasons, it seems. In some towns mural-making is used to memorialize history or give artists a platform. Some cities put up murals systematically with a view to draw tourists. Institutions and businesses put up murals to illustrate their ideals or what they support. Sometimes city governments fund mural projects to give their youth something to work on. Other times shopkeepers put up murals to transform ugly buildings and attract customers.
Regardless of why they’re there, most of them are pretty easy on the eyes and the understanding. I think of them as the art of common people (though usually by uncommonly good artists). If murals were music, they would be folk, or jazz, or country and western.
I’ve taken photographs of murals for years – photos that have customarily moldered in albums or boxes. But now, with my digital camera and access to a blog, I can do more. Which is why I’m putting up this blog – to share my finds with whoever cares to come by.
There won’t be a lot of writing here – mostly pictures. I’ll try to tell what I know about the various murals, like their artists and the message behind the depiction. I’ll also give general locations. Mostly, though, I want this to be a light-hearted, fun place to ogle street art.
Oh yes and the ‘and More’ part of this blog’s title simply means that from time to time, I’ll post other public art as well.
So, shall we begin...
I also love observing the subject matter of murals, which is wide-ranging. Some are symbolic. Others tell a story or focus on a community’s historical events. Still others border on propaganda or advertising.
People put them up for a variety of reasons, it seems. In some towns mural-making is used to memorialize history or give artists a platform. Some cities put up murals systematically with a view to draw tourists. Institutions and businesses put up murals to illustrate their ideals or what they support. Sometimes city governments fund mural projects to give their youth something to work on. Other times shopkeepers put up murals to transform ugly buildings and attract customers.
Regardless of why they’re there, most of them are pretty easy on the eyes and the understanding. I think of them as the art of common people (though usually by uncommonly good artists). If murals were music, they would be folk, or jazz, or country and western.
I’ve taken photographs of murals for years – photos that have customarily moldered in albums or boxes. But now, with my digital camera and access to a blog, I can do more. Which is why I’m putting up this blog – to share my finds with whoever cares to come by.
There won’t be a lot of writing here – mostly pictures. I’ll try to tell what I know about the various murals, like their artists and the message behind the depiction. I’ll also give general locations. Mostly, though, I want this to be a light-hearted, fun place to ogle street art.
Oh yes and the ‘and More’ part of this blog’s title simply means that from time to time, I’ll post other public art as well.
So, shall we begin...
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