New mural shines bright in downtown Barrie
Another touch of beauty and inspiration has been added to Barrie's downtown through the local duo Clandestinos Art.
Spearheaded by the Downtown Barrie BIA, the piece of art is located on the side of Shak's World Community Centre at 59 Maple Avenue, facing Kempenfelt Bay.
Bruno Smoky and Shalak Attack make up the Barrie duo who create art locally and internationally.
The new mural titled Home visualizes the narrative of a "colourful and diverse place to live in harmony with our surrounding nature."
It was inspired by talking with several community members, including Shak, her staff, and the Barrie Native Friendship Center.
The couple described the meaning of the mural in their own words.
"The maple tree stands at the heart of the mural; the sun shines light through its branches, illuminating the strength of the community and highlighting the maple tree as a historical symbol for the First Nations of the area.
The little girl blows the seeds of the flower, making a wish and a whimsical blast of snowflakes representing winter. Spring, summer and fall are also present, telling of the cycles of nature and time.
The man looking to the right is a nod to Shak's World and the activities going on inside. He's a sports player wearing a jersey and also a balance to the feminine and masculine energies of the piece. The bees are working away gathering pollen, an important symbol for Barrie as a Bee City, which encourages pollinator conservation in the area.
The Eagle and Condor are a nod to an ancient Prophecy that represents the indigenous peoples of the Americas reunited in connection to the Earth, which signals a time of reconciliation, reunification, and healing of the land and its peoples.
In the heart of the Condor is the Andes, the backbone that unites both South and North America, which turns into the Rocky Mountains. It also represents migration and the diverse people here on this land.
The tobacco flower is also present, a listening activator of all creation; it listens to prayers and is a gift, as shared by members of the Barrie Native Friendship Centre. Water is also an important symbol for Barrie and the surrounding area represented on the left side of the panel. We hope that through this colourful and harmonious composition, we can represent the diversity and character of this amazing city and brighten up the downtown area."
The mural also highlights the work being done at Shak's World, which welcomes those aged between seven to 17, offering drop-in programming such as art, dance, cooking, yoga, chess and basketball training.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.