The beavers are coming!

Yikes, these furry creatures look big enough to take on the cars! I think they're beavers. It's a shame so much of the painting is hidden by vehicles.

Faux storefronts

I think these fake store windows with their old-fashioned merchandise are fun. They're also from Courtenay.

Native roots

This mural, also from Courtenay, reflects the First Nations part in the history of Vancouver Island.

Harbour scene

Can't you just hear the gulls and smell the sea? This beautiful painting is of the historic Courtenay waterfront.

Hidden in plain sight

After our time at Powell River last September, we took the ferry to Vancouver Island and Courtenay - Comox.

This landscape featuring flowers decorated the tops of the stores down one of the streets in Courtenay. It's a a beautiful painting and a pity it isn't more in-your-face.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Deep woods find

I've been meaning to wake up this mural blog for a while now. Though I haven't photographed many new murals lately, it is the season when I'm again in the mood for murals and mural hunting. I'll try to post new murals twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays)

We'll start with a few that have been moldering in my collection, just waiting for their moment in the spotlight.

We came upon this primitively painted storage tank on our vacation last year, as we hiked through the forest from the north to south side of Savary Island (nearest city - Powell River).



As I said, I'll be posting murals twice a week now (Mondays and Thursdays) so come back often to see what's new!

Nooks and crannies of Vernon

Here are a few more murals we discovered on our trip to Vernon last summer. These aren't on any tour brochures, and I don't know the artists, but they are lovely street surprises nevertheless.

Powell River - photo memorabilia

Here are a few Powell River murals that look like they jumped right out of someone's photo album.

"1910 Unidentified Fisherman"

"Sole Survivor 1911 Herman Roesch"

"William (Billy Goat) Smith CA. 1932"


We thought the sign above the butcher shop was cute.

Powell River - where the logging is legendary

I did not know Paul Bunyan and his blue ox were connected to this place...

Who will buy?

Along the same Kelowna walk you'll find these delightful mosaics - replicas of old-fashioned fruit adverts.

Fruity sculptures

Happy New Year!

... and high time to ogle more murals and public art.

If you're like me, you're ready for the end of winter (even though it's barely begun). In defiance of all the snow, I'm putting up some photos from July to help me remember - this too shall pass.

You'll find these fruity sculptures in Kelowna, near the downtown lakefront part of town (sorry - I don't know the street coordinates).

Hetland Christmas murals

Every Christmas Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota does a program of choral music. For years, they have performed that program against the backdrop of a 20 x 60-foot painted Christmas mural reflecting that year's theme. For at least 13 of those years David Hetland designed stunning murals for those concerts, then supervised the volunteers who painted them.

"Star of Wonder" - the theme in 2000.

A book - On Our Way Rejoicing - gives us a behind-the-scenes look at these concerts, including the mural-making process. Here is a page from the book.

"The Lord is My Shepherd" is the mural from 2004.

Go here to see more Hetland murals.

He also designed and created stained glass and mosaics.

David Hetland died in 2006. (Maybe we'll see more of his amazing artistry beyond the pearly gates.)

****************

10-01-09 Update:

It seems that the Hetland website is no longer working, thus the many stale links above. There are other places online that have thumbnails of Mr. Hetland's murals. Here is a short video of him, talking about his role in the mural projects along with a mural slide show. 

Mysterious monster

Nha-a-tik - Ogopogo - 2003
2704 Highway 6, west-facing wall





Lake Okanagan's famous and mysterious monster has been around a long time. Sightings go back to the 1860s.

This bold, green mural has to be my favorite of all the Vernon murals. Isn't it imaginative and just plain fun?

With this monster mural we've come to the end of the Vernon mural series. I hope you've enjoyed them. Kudos to Vernon for giving us such wonderful street art!

The latest wheels

Indian Motorcycle - 2003
2904 - 30th Ave., west-facing wall



This mural features a Megaw Motor Company ad for Indian Motorcycles. Their all-chain drive was an improvement over the usual belt-driving motorbike of the day.

Rustic street

Dr. Reinhard's House and Office - 2000
2909 - 30th Ave, west-facing wall



This street scene pictures the home of Vernon's third doctor, Dr. Reinhard. It was both his home and the medical clinic.

(It was tricky to photograph though, because of the narrow space between it and the building beside it. It will always be viewed at an angle because of this, never straight on - unless it can be seen the windows of the neighboring building.)

Love that lake

Okanagan Lake - 2003
3101 - 29th Ave., east-facing wall

Beautiful Okanagan Lake is featured in this mural that looks like a page out of someone's scrapbook. The sailboat pictured is the only one with two masts available in pioneer times. (And wouldn't you just like to take a bite out of one of those juicy looking apples?)

Well-read

Office of the Daily News - 2000
2807 - 32nd St. west-facing wall



The Vernon News was the Okanagan's first newspaper. As well as local and world news, it had a weekly column of news about community life.

Steamy clean

Vernon's Steam Laundry - 2000
2807 - 32nd St. south-facing wall.



Opened in 1908 by Mr. Cecil Johnston, Vernon's first commercial laundry promised prompt and satisfactory service.

Rich load

Creamery Truck - 2000
3111 Coldstream Ave. - north-facing wall.



This mural celebrates the era of the Vernon Creamery, opened in 1920 by H. W. Knight. This truck traveled the country roads, picking up cream from local dairies.

City of Vernon

City of Vernon - 2000
2902 - 32nd Street, south-facing wall



Eldon Seymour and Jim Duddle bought plans from a magazine, then worked 10 months to construct this open cockpit monoplane. The 40 HP engine could reach speeds of 90 MPH.