INNISFAIL – The partial blockage and possible future removal of the town's once celebrated downtown centennial mural has triggered discussion to look at the feasibility of creating a public art policy.
Created to honour the 100th anniversary of the town in 2003, the publicly funded mural on the east wall of the old Fields building near the intersection of Main Street and 49th Avenue has been partially obscured by the construction of the new downtown mall.
The matter was briefly discussed during the summer at a Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) meeting when the developer sought approval for a setback change that would have allowed for the mural to be at least partially visible.
“It was seen as a benefit that the mural would at least be partially visible with the new setback,” said an email from the town on behalf of development officer Amy McMurtie. “The economic development benefit of the new mall was seen as outweighing the mural's impact on downtown, and there had been a 14-day period after the MPC approval of the setback that would have allowed for objections to be registered.”
Iris White, a past chair of the Innisfail Arts Council and current chair of the annual art show, said in future it would be nice to have policy in place to preserve the other murals in Innisfail, should development end up with those pieces of art facing a similar fate.
Last week Todd Becker, the town's chief adminsitrative officer, confirmed the town does not have a public art policy.
Mayor Jim Romane said it is an idea worth exploring.
“It has to be explored with affected parties involved. I am not saying no to it. I am only one person. I would love to hear from people....and information from other communities, what is involved and what it means, all of that,” said Romane. “I think they deserve an audience and we can put it out there for public didscussion.”
In the meantime, with the mural now at least a third blocked from view, retired artist Ruth Jepson thinks it should be covered over rather than only partially on display. She said it's “disrespectful” to leave it the way it currently is, though she understands the community needs the new building.
Jepson was contracted by the town 14 years ago for a sum of $6,250 to create a 15-metre by four-metre centennial mural. The total cost of the centennial mural project was more than $10,000, with the town covering expenses over and above a $6,918 provincial Community Initiative Grant.
“It (mural) served its purpose at the time. I enjoyed painting it and I hope the town enjoyed it while it was there but now the town needs another building and it is going up on the side, which will obscure
most of the mural,” said the 84-year-old retired Didsbury artist, who also created two other murals in downtown Innisfail for a millennium project. “Two- thirds of a picture is no darn good anyways. I think having it only a foot from another building, well, who is going to be able to see it? Paint the wall white, or whatever colour it is. It is very unkind to
leave half of it showing. It is disrespectful,” said Jepson.
“Nobody likes their work to be discarded but that is the way of life. Everything has its duration. I am sad to see it go. I remember distinctly it was a terribly hot summer but I did my best for it and I hope it has given a lot of pleasure while it has been up.”
Becker said it wasn't within the town's jurisdiction to decide whether or not to paint over or otherwise cover the mural, as it is on a privately-owned building.
“It's an amenity enjoyed by the community, (but) it's really on private property,” Becker said.
An email and phone call requesting comment to mall developer Bob Singh, were not immediately returned by deadline.
-with files from Johnnie Bachusky
Ruth Jepson, mural artist
"Two- thirds of a picture is no darn good anyways. I think having it only a foot from another building, well, who is going to be able to see it? Paint the wall white, or whatever colour it is. It is very unkind toleave half of it showing. It is disrespectful."
