THUNDER BAY -- Erin Beagle says trying to pick out a favourite piece of a new mural adorning an exterior wall on the Roots to Harvest building is like trying to choose a favourite child – it’s just not possible.
Beagle, the executive director of the organization, says she loves every inch of the artistic endeavour, which was made possible by a donation from a supporter who told them to do something interesting and unusual with the money.
The project, which came together in a matter of weeks, was completed earlier this week.
“We wanted the feeling of what we do here and what our community means to us, and when (the artists) came back with their final concept to us, it was cheering, basically, on this end when we saw the picture. Because they totally nailed it,” Beagle said.
“They captured, I think, what the work is Roots to Harvest does, but really the elements and the feeling that we try to convey in all of our work. We’re not about the food, we are about community and I think you see that.”
The artwork was completed by a veteran team of four, known for their work with Die Active.
Kathleen Beda, Vicki Nerino, Boy Roland and Lora Northway said they were tasked with creating a mural that displayed the joy and beauty of what Roots to Harvest does inside the walls for everyone in Thunder Bay to enjoy.
The vision came together quickly and centred around connecting with the community.
“We kind of focused in on food and community and hands and hard work as the basis of what we wanted to illustrate into a mural form,” Northway said.
Roland said everyone involved took their own interpretation and brought it to the table and the final design was hashed out from there – a true collaborative effort that was also indicative of the work being done by Roots to Harvest.
“It was really fun to have the interplay with the mural of that collaborative spirit,” Roland said.
“We all kind of talked together, came up with common themes and then everyone goes their separate ways to develop something that works in the space. Then we kind of come back together, try to arrange things to see what fits, what doesn’t, edit, take stuff away, put stuff in, move things around and totally change stuff. It’s very interactive.”
All four artists are thrilled with the final result.
“I’m very proud of the work that we did. It’s really nice to have a new wall up. It’s always a good feeling,” Roland said.
