If you’re in Edmonton and have had your eye caught by someone creating a massive, bright artwork on the side of a building, you probably have the Edmonton Mural Festival to thank for it.
Since CKUA loves making community connections all around this province, we were excited when Kris Kasawski, Owner and Business Developer at Park Power, invited us to shine a spotlight on this vibrant, community-building art festival.
The Festival starts August 15 and runs to September 15. It’s an annual event with the mission to transform the city into an open-air gallery. Local and international artists will be creating large-scale outdoor art across the city over the course of the month. The festival includes hands-on art experiences as well as community events.
Anand Pye is one of the festival directors.
Pye sees potential and optimism when he looks at murals. “They add love to areas of the city that need a little love,” he says. He sees the benefits of downtown revitalization that can emerge through art and design.
“Construction takes a long time,” he says, “but murals can change things for a neighbourhood quickly.”
He’s speaking next to the HERO mural, at the corner of 103 Avenue and 104 Street. Conceived and painted by a Rust Magic collective, featuring artists Hardthirteen, Curly Whitebear, and Annaliza Toledo, its central image is a strong, resilient Indigenous woman.
Pye says he’s looking forward to this year’s mural festival. “There’s been great public buy-in,” he says. “People like them. It’s public art that transforms spaces.”
Andréa Schmidt is an Edmonton artist who has already created her piece for the festival. She and several other artists completely covered a building, slated for tear-down, with murals. You can see it at 10507 124 St.
“I did kind an abstract pink wash first and then covered it in ripple shapes with a big face coming out of those ripples with sunglasses. A very summery vibes with lily pads and lotuses, bright pop colours,” she says.
“Everyone was just so appreciative that we were taking this eyesore of a building that had been there for years and just adding some colour to the neighbourhood.”
She loves being involved with the festival, she says.
“Just in general, I think murals are amazing,” Schmidt says. “The thing I love about murals is that they’re there for everyone. Coming from the background of a fine artist, I can’t even afford to buy my own work, my own original pieces, but murals are accessible to everyone and I think that’s really special.”
Kasawski says he is happy to show Park Power’s support for the festival.
“Park Power is a big, big fan of the Edmonton Mural Festival. We believe that public art is a vital aspect to healthy, positive communities and the murals that the EMF helps to create around Edmonton bring a wonderful sense of vibrancy, history, and community to the city. Over the years the Edmonton Mural Festival has left our city with a legacy of beautiful and engaging murals that will continue to contribute to the community for years to come.”
The Edmonton Mural Festival runs August 15 – September 15 and you can get all the info at edmontonmuralfest.com.
Park Power
