Chinatown mural set to be Old Town’s largest
One of the largest murals ever envisaged for Downtown Victoria is being planned for a Fisgard Street heritage building.
A proposal by Victoria’s Olio Artist & Workers Co-operative to create a 3,700 square foot painting on the east-facing wall of the Lee’s Benevolent Association building at 614 Fisgard Street has been presented to City Hall and is awaiting approval. Co-operative Director Joey MacDonald says his group is meeting with City officials Thursday and hopes to hear back from them later next month. Olio plans on holding a series of open houses so residents and business owners can learn more about the project and ask questions. While not promising the design will please everyone, the group wants the project to become a welcomed part of one of Canada’s most historic districts.
The Lee's Benevolent Association building at 614 Fisgard, proposed location for Olio Co-operative's mural. Photo by Robert Randall © by VibrantVictoria.ca
The Co-operative’s six local artists are currently drafting a colourfully surreal landscape-based design which will be unveiled during the public consultation process. MacDonald says the design is engaging yet accessible and promises the wall will be “100% whale free”.
The group is hoping to raise the $10,000 they say is needed to execute the roughly four storey high mural before the planned start day in August.
Olio says their mural will be Downtown’s largest contemporary art piece, bigger than Wyland’s Whaling Wall on Wharf Street.
There is no definitive listing of all Victoria’s murals. Land Marks, a website that attempts to catalogue all public art in the Capital Regional District omits several Downtown murals. Large scale murals have been criticized in the past for their poor execution or deteriorating condition. MacDonald promises their mural will be professionally done. Proper cleaning, prep work and priming will be done beforehand and a graffiti and ultraviolet-resistant protective coating will be applied afterward.
Olio is headquartered in the Lee’s building and offers gallery shows and workshops from its second floor studio.
To learn more about Olio Co-operative and the mural project, and to make a donation, click here.
Go here to discuss murals on VibrantVictoria’s discussion forum.
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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's The Murals of Victoria thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
Baro
Oct 07, 2011 at 7:12 pmThey building the Juliet in front of Capital Iron??
Holden West
Oct 07, 2011 at 10:06 pm^No, they rebuilt Capital Iron in front of the Ministry of Health Building. Then they demolished the North Park neighbourhood to build an express bridge to Fernwood.
amor de cosmos
Oct 07, 2011 at 10:06 pmI know, & Garbally is nowhere near there either. I just thought it was a cool mural.
Mike K.
Oct 08, 2011 at 7:40 amDo you think the Johnson Street Bridge will be covered up once replaced?
Dylan Leblanc
Oct 08, 2011 at 8:39 amThat's a neat mural. It reminds me of the mural that used to overlook the food court at Mayfair mall. Does anyone remember that one? It was a mural of how the inner harbour looked many years ago, although I don't think it was entirely accurate. It sure would be need to see a photo of it, if anyone thought to take one before it was destroyed when the food court was moved.
