|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
251 Kennedy Street (Shutter Mural)
Location Map
"An Eye for the City"
2 part shutter mural covering optical storefront, November 2008
One Shot Enamel, oil based, on PVC, Bulls Eye Primer.
132 x 77 each.
|
Location: NE corner Kennedy & Graham; West Face (Shutter windows)
Occupant: See 'n Save Optical
District: City Centre
Neighbourhood: South Portage
Artist(s): Sarah Collard (Collard Creations)
Year: 2008
Sponsors: Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Take Pride Winnipeg!
|
|
|
Sarah Collard: "A young boy and girl share their excitement for their new eyeglasses and
the fun city. Graham and Kennedy are known for their numerous optical stores such as
See N' Save, a business that has been around for many years. In the heart of downtown,
the eye is a central part of business. The city's new transit stations make a great outline
of an eye over top young patrons. The various buildings that line the Portage Avenue
skyline are collaged into the background referencing Winnipeg's cultural and economic
diversity. Portage and Main was once the centre for the banking industry with the Royal
Bank Building, Vital Statistics, the former Bank of Nova Scotia finding their way into the
cityscape. The Carlton, Radisson and Kensington buildings are also illustrated with Can
West Global Place seen in the windows."
"The new hydro building which is currently under construction is located down the alley
behind See N' Save. In an effort to be authentic, my children and I took a photographic
walk down Portage Avenue taking pictures for reference material. The transit shelter was
our resting place and the Portage footbridge can be seen in the background bridging one
shutter to the other. I will often photograph models or people I know as subjects. This
time it happened to be my daughter Sonja and son Emanuel. The third shutter is waiting
to be completed. It shows a magnifying glass with a boy's eye up close. The eye exam;
a distant memory pervades their thinking with optical lines still in view. Eye chart letters
read phonetically 'A GRYT CTI', our city's former slogan. The background is an
extension of the metal framed shelter with the new Manitoba Hydro Building being built
in the background. It is located in the back alley of this location."
"There was a little bit of a mix up with the proprietors of the building. Downtown BIZ
ran a competition that stated the parameters of the shutter Mural. In it they asked for a
Mural that incorporated the businesses in the area with special attention to the optical
theme. It did not specify any other theme. When the Mural was awarded to me, I went
ahead with the proposed drawing that had been approved by the selected jury, as was my
mandate. When I approached the owners of the See n' Save, they began introducing and
requesting changes. I agreed to do some minor changes to the colour of the skin and to
give the boy aboriginal features but I was not prepared to drastically change the image."
"The owners of See n' Save were concerned that the image did not look Aboriginal
enough and may offend some. I think they were successful in showing their concern for
the aboriginal people who make up a large fabric of the downtown culture. The Mural
has been respected and I hope the owners will allow me the opportunity to finish it (Ed
note- the third shutter, see photo 4) in the Spring of 2009."
|
|
