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287 Riverton Avenue
Location Map
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Location: NE corner Riverton & Levis; South Face at West end of building
Occupant: Allmar
District: East Kildonan
Neighbourhood: Chalmers
Artist(s): Rachel (Maes) Lancaster
Year: 2017
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Rachel Maes: "In celebration of 60 years in businesses, local Winnipeg based company;
Allmar, wanted a commemorative Mural at their headquarters on Riverton Ave. After
several meetings to discuss the details on what was to be included the owners decided the
Mural should reflect the Manitoba Prairies and should also somehow include the history
of Allmar."
"During the planning stage I was taken on a tour of the interior of the headquarters, and
was shown the collection of art that hung on the walls. The art collection included a ton
of art from various local artists and even a custom painting of the original Roadside Store
on Henderson Highway where Allmar made its humble beginnings. It was then that I had
the idea that the Mural should include all of Allmar's buildings as they moved through
time, so I pitched the idea to the owners, and they loved it."
"The far left side of the wall (Photo 2) represents where the owners grew up, on the
Saskatchewan/Manitoba Prairies. I wanted the sunflowers, the fence posts and the field
with the grain-bin to be a bright cheery memory of childhood; with the petals blowing in
the wind and the geese flying off in the distance. As the Mural progresses to the right (Photo 4) you
come to the river, representing the river behind the original Roadside Store off Henderson
Highway, nestled in the trees and flowers as that land was not yet fully developed when
that store existed. As you carry on down the road (Photo 5) you pass a yellow RedeKopp Lumber
Truck, representing the growth in the company as the Roadside store took on RedeKopp
Lumber and transitioned into Allmar Distributors LTD at 11 Higgins (the second building
in the middle). In the background you will see parts of the Winnipeg Skyline against the
setting sun. Further down the road you will finish at their current Riverton location and
note the proud Canadian Flag blowing in the wind."
"The Mural is completely done with outdoor house paint and brushes, and took 2 weeks
to complete. The wall faces South and is enclosed on two sides with concrete buildings
and sits at the end of a large parking lot. I started painting in August as the summer heat
hit 30 degrees by mid-day and turns that parking lot area into a sauna. With the nearby
buildings there was absolutely no air movement, so after an intense bout of heat stroke
and a ton of ruined paint, I decided to only paint in the early mornings and evenings.
Besides that, the painting went very smoothly, I had a great time as staff and people
passing by stopped to talk and enjoy my art. I feel very honoured to have had this
opportunity and was part of the 60 year celebration where my Mural was 'unveiled' as a
gift to the staff and community. Thanks again to Allmar and to everyone involved, I had
an awesome time!"
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