The collection of murals in Moose Jaw is about to grow by one more: Moose Jaw Pride has begun work on their mural, going up on the back of the building that Rainbow Retro calls home.
Following a handful of public workshops to discuss what should be included in the mural, artist Karli Jessup has put together what will be a piece of art that represents the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the city.
“It's a mural that helps to tell the story of the pride community in Moose Jaw, the LGBTQ+ community. And so it's really kind of a unique mural in that way, is that it just sort of reflects various milestones,” said Joe Wickenhauser, executive director at Moose Jaw Pride.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada, and Wickenhauser emphasized how important it is for a mural like this one to be visible in the community.
“I think there's a lot of people in Moose Jaw that don't realize that the LGBTQ+ community has here for so long and that there are some really important and beautiful things,” said Wickenhauser. “It's really empowering, I think, when a younger generation can see their history represented.”
And from its inception, the project has focused on that representation; community input and ideas were collected and merged together to create the design, after a good response from the workshops in March.
Wickenhauser is grateful for the Saskatchewan Arts Board grant making the mural a possibility, as well as the chance for the LBGTQ+ community’s story to be included amongst the rest of Moose Jaw’s storied murals.
A group began prepping and priming the wall this week, after some weather-related delays last week, and Wickenhauser is hoping that they will be able to finish in time for Pride Week, happening on May 26 to June 1 — which would be the perfect time for a big reveal.
“We're hoping to have in finished in time for Pride Week, so when visitors come to the city they can come and take a look, come check out the shop and see the mural and enjoy their stay,” said Wickenhauser.
