The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s (EAGM) legacy project for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations features the talents of nearly 400 local residents.
A large tile mural that measures eight feet by eight feet, and includes 579 tiles, has been created through the Mural Mosaic’s Canada 150 initiative. It’s not just a celebration of Canadian history, but it’s also a celebration of history, culture and industry of Estevan.
The mural depicts the late Ida Petterson, who was a mayor of Estevan from 1970 to 1976, and was the first woman to be elected as mayor of a Saskatchewan city. Petterson is seen sitting on her desk, which is positioned atop a rail car. A pump jack and agricultural land are in the background.
About 200 of the tiles were completed in advance by Lewis Lavoie with Mural Mosaic. Local school students had their turn on Thursday and Friday, and their efforts accounted for the bulk of the titles. A few dozen adults had their turn during a VIP reception on Friday night.
Paul and Tracy Lavoie from Mural Mosaic were in Estevan last week to discuss their Canada 150 project, promote their organization, and help participants paint their tiles. Most tiles had a local theme, but some had a Canadian approach.
“I’m really excited to see the progress,” said EAGM director Amber Andersen. “It’s been such a fun project. It’s been so great to work with Paul and Tracy.”
Anderson noted some of the tiles had to be completed in advance so that the mural would look the way the EAGM envisioned. Then the students and adults added to the mural with their own images.
“We want Ida to look like Ida,” said Andersen. “Just seeing how they (Paul and Tracy) are able to work with people and get the rest of the components coming together is just amazing.”
She also praised Mural Mosaic for researching the city they’re going to be working in. A closer inspection of the mural reveals such images as the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins, the Orpheum Theatre, the city’s water tower and the smokes stacks of the local power stations.
Andersen was pleased the school children could be part of the project.
“You learn to be comfortable with facilities, and you learn about the importance of things when you are young, whether that is sport or art,” said Andersen.
Andersen told the crowd at Friday night’s reception that they were selected to participate due to their commitment to the EAGM. She called them allies, partners, funders, supporters, advocates and appreciators.
Petterson was selected to be in the mural because of her contributions to the city, and her historical significance in Saskatchewan municipal politics. She was a local entrepreneur and community leader.
During her time as mayor, several projects were completed, including a new city hall, a new curling rink, water and sewer upgrades, fresh pavement for streets underground sprinkler systems in parks.
“Despite numerous infrastructure improvements, the city’s debt load was reduced by about one-third by the end of her two terms,” said Andersen.
Also during her tenure, Petterson was the driving force behind the construction of the Estevan National Exhibition Centre, now known as the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum. She advocated for the project and even wrote grants.
“We would not be sitting in this building, celebrating the arts tonight, without her contributions,” said Andersen.
Members of the Petterson family were in attendance for the reception.
Tracy Lavoie said Mural Mosaic wants to create 150 such murals at locations across the country for Canada’s 150th birthday, in an effort to unite the country through arts and culture. The project started in 2015, but this year is their busiest.
“Everybody wants the facilitation of the murals this year, of course, because this year is our big celebration year,” she said.
Each of the murals is unique because of the community’s input, she said. They decide what the key iconic images will be, and the EAGM wanted Petterson and a pump jack.
“They wanted something that was meaningful and understandable at the community level,” said Lavoie.
She said the children were a lot of fun to work with, and they took the project very seriously. The adults have more understanding of the history of the country, she said, so that results in different designs on their tiles.
Paul Lavoie added that people came out and created something that looks great. He was happy to see Estevan selected for the province.
“It’s nice to have a community that has a lot of historical relevance,” he said.
The mural not only marks Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, but also the EAGM’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations in 2018.
Eventually it will be stored in the EAGM’s permanent collection.
The Mural Mosaic program started in St. Albert, Alberta, in 2003, and was founded by Paul and Lewis Lavoie, as well as Phil Alain. They have orchestrated collaborative murals across North America.
Their work has been featured at the 2005 Alberta and Saskatchewan centennial celebrations, the 2005 Edmonton centennial, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the centennial celebration for the Calgary Stampede, and a royal unveilling of Queen Elizabeth II.
