ESTEVAN - Summer is almost here, and a new beautification project for Estevan is now underway.
The first couple of colourful art benches already appeared at two locations. One with sunflowers was created by local artist Brenda Blackburn and is installed by Fas Gas on Main Street. The second one, depicting a sunrise, was made by Gale Tytlandsvik and can be seen on Souris Avenue North by the intersection with Eva Street.
Tytlandsvik, an Estevan artist and green thumb, is working with the Estevan Arts Council and in co-ordination with the city to further beautify Estevan.
She said the idea of decorating benches was born in her backyard.
"I was a realtor, and my husband brought my sign home from one of the benches and hung it in the backyard. And I felt like, it had to go. And then my daughter said, 'Can you paint something else on it?' And I said, 'Hey, you know, what? Why don't we see if we can put it on a bench? We can re-cover it and use it on it. So I talked to a city councillor and made a proposal, and they said, go for it. So I got permission to do three benches," Tytlandsvik shared.
She invited Blackburn on board to create a design, which was enlarged and wrapped on the back piece, and later mounted onto a bench. Tytlandsvik noted that they approached the design strategically, and placed a more detailed sunflower painting by the intersection, giving people something to look at while waiting for the lights. The other bench is at a drive-by location, so it adds colours to the landscape but doesn't take drivers' attention away.
Tytlandsvik first had three benches to decorate, but they eventually became just the beginning of a bigger beautification project.
"At the council meeting lately, I got permission to do a few more. Two or three more, so I'll have another three or four benches that I can do," Tytlandsvik said.
For the three remaining benches, Tytlandsvik is putting a call out for art.
"Hopefully, I will get submissions," Tytlandsvik said.
She added that for the benches, art doesn't need to be big, as long as it's scaled for the bench back, as it will be processed and transferred onto the vinyl wrap.
Tytlandsvik will also have to paint the benches so that bottoms co-ordinate with the art, and complete repairs if needed. The new back pieces should last for about 10 years, she said, and as long as they are not damaged, they can be re-wrapped with another art when the time comes.
While benches became an exciting project, they weren't the end of Tytlandsvik's plans for making Estevan prettier this summer. She also is putting a call out for artists to help her with creating art for the lift station on King Street, as well as three murals on the side of Pharmasave, and one on the front of TD Bank. On top of that, she has five more locations where businesses agreed to let artists place murals. And another one on Fourth Street, the brick strip between Jenny Joan's and House of Stationery, that she is going to try and accomplish this summer along with the other locations.
"The murals on the side of Pharmasave and on the front of the TD are not in good shape. They've lasted a long time, but they're done. I have to talk to the other two artists just to let them know what's going on, because, truly, they cannot be repaired, they're peeling and they need to go … So those are my priority along with the benches. I really want to see those done this year," Tytlandsvik said.
She added that the murals were created in the late 2000s and reached their lifespan now.
For the new murals, she wants them to turn out well, be "energizing" and "cool", as they will be a part of the city landscape for many years.
"We want cool, fun, beautiful ideas for making our city awesome. I would love for everyone to smile when they see our new mural art. Let's amaze and delight people. Let's change the way we see our city."
What murals will look like, will be determined further down the line and a lot will depend on artists' submissions, but some things are set already. For example, Tytlandsvik said they agreed that Estevan doesn't need another pumpjack, as it already has art reflecting its Energy City nature. Historic murals are also not in the plans.
"I, personally, I do not lean toward historic, and since I'm on the committee, we probably will not have historic. Historic is wonderful. I love history. Love it. But again, Moose Jaw got historic, Saskatoon has historic, everybody has historic murals. And I think we should try something different."
Tytlandsvik added that she is really looking forward to having many submissions so they could have some great local art happening.
"I'm really hoping that we get a lot of interest, especially for easy things like the benches."
Tytlandsvik noted that the mural that is currently being created above the General Store on Fourth Street is not a part of the project and rather is a solo accomplishment by BJ Zieger of Lucky Buddha Tattoo in Estevan. But she hopes he might be interested in taking on some of the murals.
"He's agreed to come on the arts council and work with me. He's done several murals in Regina. He's done a couple bigger murals," Tytlandsvik said.
The project is done with the support of the Estevan Arts Council. They don't plan on fundraising for any of the art pieces for the time being. Tytlandsvik said it is something that they might consider later, but for now, they also will pursue grants and other additional funding.
The deadline for submissions is mid-June, for projects to ideally be completed by the end of July. Artists interested in getting involved with benches and/or murals can contact Tytlandsvik at estevanartscouncil@sasktel.net.
