MOOSE JAW - Mural artist Grant McLaughlin will soon begin repairing several artworks — and fully restoring one — that have a combined age of 119 years, including one from when the community’s mural initiative first began.
McLaughlin and Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, visited every mural last summer and flagged ones that he could update in 2024. Furthermore, some deteriorated over the winter, so he added those to the list.
The artist presented five murals to the public art committee during its July meeting, where members reviewed the maintenance and restoration list and approved the initiatives for $5,000.
This year’s murals include:
- Veterinarian Mural (2007, by Noella Cotnam) on the 0 block of Hochelaga Street West; touch-ups required on faded areas
- A Tribute to the Métis Community (2007, by Ray Renooy) on the 0 block of Hochelaga Street West; touch-ups required on faded areas
- Centennial Mural (1992, by Grant McLaughlin) in the Crescent Park Amphitheatre; graffiti damage and other repairs required
- Hopes and Dreams (1991, by Grant McLaughlin) at 21 Fairford Street West wall; requires cleaning and waxing
- History of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company (2004, Grant McLaughlin) at 250 Thatcher Drive south wall; the mural requires a full restoration, so the artist will replicate the artwork on dibond panels
McLaughlin will spend $500 repairing the first four murals and $4,500 to fully replicate the fifth artwork.
McLaughlin acknowledged that three of his murals that he’s repairing are “pretty old” — one is 33 years old, which is how long the City of Moose Jaw has had such artwork. Meanwhile, repair work is usually required for murals that are over 10 years old, while only “tiny touch-ups” are possible for south-facing pieces.
“It’s expected, but most of the murals I’ve gotten into fairly good shape, but somebody’s going to have to take over that someday,” he added. “So I’m trying to get ones that maybe need a little bit more work done finished now so they won’t need work for a while.”
The five murals are all important in their own way, McLaughlin said.
A group of artists from outside Moose Jaw created the Métis and veterinarian pieces for separate conferences. However, they took paint that was meant for brick and applied those liquids to metal backings.
Meanwhile, the Crescent Park mural “is certainly more important” since it was done for the community’s centennial, while Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, helped unveil it, said McLaughlin. It usually requires work annually because of its age, the type of wall it’s on, and the fact it’s a magnet for graffiti.
Furthermore, he created the Hopes and Dreams mural during the program’s first year, where he donated the work and the city covered the cost of supplies.
“It’s weathered pretty good for 33 years, so I’m going to have to spend a little bit more time on that one,” the artist said, noting it honours early homesteaders and is based on a photograph from that time.
Also, the History of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company mural honours that organization’s 100th anniversary and contains images celebrating the community’s history.
McLaughlin says it will take roughly four weeks to update all five murals, but that’s based on the weather and his energy levels. He will start with the Exhibition mural first — he’ll begin around Aug. 19 — since that’s the largest project and “long overdue.”
He expects to finish that in two weeks.
“I just hope that someone else is willing at some point to take over. You have to learn to paint everybody else’s style as well as your own. And that’s not something everyone can do … ,” McLaughlin added.
“I’ve enjoyed all my time spent doing murals and (it’s) just something I hope I keep doing for a while yet.”
