INNISFAIL - Council has discussed whether the town has any kind of public arts policy but its brief chat on the emotional issue was clouded by recent erroneous information the cost to create two recently painted over murals was covered privately.
At least one destroyed mural, the four by 16-metre centennial creation, was publicly funded by the province and town, a fact that could have increased interest and concern with local citizens.
"The murals were funded by the private property owners back in the day so there was no public money in them to begin with. So it would be hard to justify spending public money later," said Coun. Danny Rieberger at council's Sept. 9 regular meeting. Rieberger's statement is at odds with the public record, and with Mayor Jim Romane.
"I know when Danny made that statement I didn't think that it was right because I do remember as I believe I was on council. There was a (government) grant. He was mistaken but he wasn't on council then," said Romane.
The two painted over murals, which includes the centennial piece near the southwest corner of Main Street and 49th Avenue and the Tribute to the Railroad mural on the west side of Innisfail Bowling Lanes building, were created by retired Didsbury artist Ruth Jepson. The cost for the centennial mural alone was more than $10,000, with $6,918 coming from a provincial Community Initiatives Program grant and the town picking up the rest, according to a June 19, 2003 article in the Innisfail Province. The cost breakdown for the Railroad mural in not known at this time.
Rieberger's Sept. 9 comments came after the mayor invited council input on a public art policy, a promise he made late last month after the Province published its story on the painted over murals. Last month's removal of the two murals generated significant emotional social media reaction from local citizens, many of them angry over the sudden loss of public art.
"I haven’t heard a lot of support for it but I have heard some. I just thought I’d bring it up and see if anybody else has any comments," said Romane on Sept. 9.
Council was told by Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer, there is no formal public arts policy, although arts and culture remain two issues in the Strategic Plan that are scheduled for discussion in the fall of 2021, a process which would possibly involve consultations with local arts and culture groups.
Becker noted last week council did not give him any direction on the issue on Sept. 9 but added the Strategic Plan is being reviewed next month.
Romane, who first called for input from the arts and culture community in 2017, renewed his desire last week to have the local arts community engaged on whether the town she formally bring in a public arts policy, one that could protect remaining pieces of public art and promote additional future pieces throughout the community.
"Let's get them involved. I think we have to get all the stakeholders in the same room and talk about it and see what we can do. Wouldn't that be a good approach? To me that makes sense to have this as the first plan of attack to get them involved."
Coun. Jean Barclay, aware that both painted over murals were created on private property, said she was unsure how the town could control what a business owner does to their building.
"I think the only way you could do that would have been back in the day when the mural was done that you would have some kind of agreement like a duplex would have a party wall agreement registered on title. But how much does that take away from someone wanting to invest in the building?" said Barclay. "So I think unfortunately time kind of marches on, sometimes right and times change. But it’s pretty hard for the town to control that."
The recent loss of the two murals leaves two main ones and one smaller work remaining in the historical block of Main Street. They are Jepson’s Innisfail Main Street mural on the east side of the walkway between the Lilac & Lace and DVI New & Used stores. The second one is the tribute to Innisfail’s fallen country grain elevators and water tower on the west exterior wall of JMM Law Office near the intersection of 51st Avenue and 49th Street. The third is a smaller exterior mural depicting First Nations culture on a fence between Main Street’s Barber Shop and Persian House Restaurant.
With files from Lea Smaldon
