The Edmonton Mural Festival is bringing emerging and established artists together to create a public painting event for what they’re saying will be unlike anything Edmonton has seen before. Eight underrepresented artists, as well as artists from the LGBTQ2S+ community have started working to transform the Club 82 building at Southbark Dog Park on Whyte Avenue into a massive, 360-degree collaborative public art installation. “When there’s thousands of people down here checking out all the artists and all the booths, you’re really going to see a swell of community and a swell of creativity happening in the area. It’s really going to be special,” said Marcus Coldeway with the Edmonton Mural Festival. The project came together after Coldeway convinced the owner to let them paint the whole building while also receiving funding support from the City of Edmonton, the Old Strathcona Business Association, and Whyte Avenue Art Walk. The mural has two parts and themes: an Emerging Voices Mural and an Established Voices Mural. It comes in the wake of them losing the Cupcake Mural on 124 Street to try and attract people, spark community pride and celebrate Edmonton’s creative voice. “This project is really amazing because the cultural impact it creates goes on for years and years. We’re helping to change the fabric of Whyte Ave and create a really cultural art destination here in Old Strathcona,” Coldeway added. “What could be considered an eyesore by the community is now a public art piece and maybe hopefully a tourism destination for people visiting Whyte Ave or visiting Edmonton.” The Emerging Voices Mural focuses on supporting the next generation of LGBTQ2+ curators and artists. “To be able to come and spend time with other artists, learn from other artists, share what you know with emerging artists, and just be part of the community is something special and we don’t get to do it all that often,” said artist Andrea Schmidt. “Art, especially original art, isn’t always super accessible to the general public, so when we get to come out and paint on the walls and it’s free to the public, I think that’s really special.” The Edmonton Mural Fest paints about 15 to 17 murals a year. More information can be found on the Fest’s website.
