The Bygone Era Entertainment Society has added some badly needed artistic colour to the downtown core of the city with two new murals by artists Tina Lindegaard and Sue Davies. These works of art were fastened to the side of the McKinnon Block, home of the Nickelodeon Museum, which had been vandalized by taggers. David F. Rooney photo
By David F. Rooney
The Bygone Era Entertainment Society has added some badly needed artistic colour to the downtown core of the city with two new murals by artists Tina Lindegaard and Sue Davies.
These works of art were fastened to the side of the McKinnon Block, home of the Nickelodeon Museum, which had been vandalized by taggers.
The wall front the alley was repainted but BEES directors felt that adding some vibrant public art would help deter vandalism in the future.
One of the murals is based on a historical photo showing the pool parlour that once occupied the building; the other is a whimsical salute to the Nickelodeon, which boasts a fabulous collection of mechanical musical instruments.
Here is a selection of images of the two-day installation process:
BEES directors Ken Jones and David Evans first made sure that they had everything on the level. David F. Rooney photoKen considers the screws. For those who don’t know him, Ken is the local United Church minister and actually has some experience as both a carpenter and as a fisherman, which is kind of appropriate for someone who became a fisher of men. David F. Rooney photoKen attaches the first mural to the wall under the watchful eyes of painter Tina Lindegaard and David Evans. David F. Rooney photoTina holds the ladder as Ken uses the power drill. David F. Rooney photoSue Davies and her daughter Jade dropped by to see how the installation was going. Shortly after this image was taken on Friday afternoon it began to rain, which forced Ken and David to postpone the second painting’s installation. David F. Rooney photoJade has a little fun posing as Atlas-girl. David F. Rooney photoHere’s the gang erecting the second mural on Saturday afternoon. David F. Rooney photoBEES directors David Evans and Ken Jones pose with talented artists Tina Lindegaard and Sue Davies. If you haven’t already seen the new murals you should stroll downtown and have a look. They certainly breathe new life into the alley. Perhaps this will inspire other building owners to brighten up their pieces of our downtown cityscape. David F. Rooney photo