Innisfail RCMP is on the hunt for at least one vandal who sprayed graffiti on a beloved piece of downtown public art.
Sometime during the last two weeks vandals used green paint to tag the large mural on the west side of a business building at 5035 – 49 St. The mural, created during a month-long project in 2000 by Bowden-area artist Rose Ufland, honours Innisfail's past pioneer country grain elevators and water tower, structures that have long been demolished.
“I think it is very sad,” said Ufland, adding she hoped a protective sealant that was put on the mural 14 years ago might easily clear away the graffiti.
However, Tammy Oliver-McCurdie, manager of Innisfail's FCSS office, and town community peace officer Ryan Anderson attempted to remove the graffiti but were unsuccessful.
“We tried with the same agent we use for the Community Graffiti Volunteer Removal Program and it did not work as it started taking off the darker paint. The coating may have degraded over the past 14 years,” said Oliver-McCurdie. “I am disappointed and saddened that someone went and destroyed not only a piece of property but a piece of art work that many put their heart and soul into years ago.”
The RCMP was called to the site to investigate and is now pursuing the perpetrators, who also tagged two other buildings in the area with the same green paint.
“We treat graffiti as a priority along with other property crimes. Graffiti seems to be up this year as we have noticed a lot of spray paint on buildings,” said Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish, adding the destruction of public art is a case more serious than most graffiti incidents. “Yes, it is more serious but we are treating graffiti as a whole a problem.
“There is a lot that goes unreported,” he added. “We often see it two or three weeks later, and that does not give us many leads.”
Meanwhile, Oliver-McCurdie said her office will now contact Ufland and the owner of the building, who originally contracted the artist to paint the mural, to get formal approval for a partnership to proceed with a restoration project. She said she hopes volunteer artists and groups will assist.
“This art mural has become a part of the community and valued by many, as has all the other art murals in the community, including the graffiti art wall at Bennett Park,” said Oliver-McCurdie.
She said council will be briefed on the graffiti incident once she has gathered more information, adding she may make a request for funding to restore the mural if she is unable to secure volunteer assistance.
