Some of the most notable art pieces from the program’s past are the side of Moon’s Kitchen and the side of the Western Financial Group building. Lavertu said they were very happy to find a central location for this year’s installment with the Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre.
“That is why we picked the location that we did this year, because we want it to be in a spot that everyone sees. That 101st and 12th Avenue is a crossing point that regardless of which of the four directions you are coming from, you can see it,” she said.
Lavertu said the BID members were very excited to find a local artist who was talented enough to handle such a large canvas.
“It is a huge space so we are happy we found an artist who feels that she has the know-how and capability to design on such a huge space,” she said.
The artist this year is Azby Whitecalf from Sweetgrass First Nation. Lavertu explained Whitecalf was the perfect artist to represent her community with her art installment.
“She is local, her home base is Sweetgrass First Nation. She is a really good, accurate, positive representation of the Indigenous people and their culture and that type of thing. I think people are going to be happy with the design that they see,” she said.
Whitecalf’s design will also be unique in that it will be an interactive piece. Lavertu explained it is being designed to be good backdrop for photo opportunities.
“People can actually go and stand in front and take pictures with it and kind of be a part and have an interaction with her art,” she said.
Lavertu said the BID members are also excited to be receiving an original piece from an up and coming local artist.
“She is not only doing murals on the side of our buildings, she’s also an illustrator and she has got some really cool projects coming out,” she said. “She is definitely going to be around and people are going to be seeing her name in the future so we are just really excited to be getting an original.”
Whitecalf started the project last week and will be taking a break this week. Residents will be able to drive by and see her mural progress and offer their words of encouragement starting again on August 4.
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On Twitter: @battlefordsnow
