30 new murals transform Calgary into 'open air' art gallery
A walk through several Calgary communities will now reveal a colourful series of murals and parklets.
Designed by and finished by local artists, the project was undertaken by the Beltline Urban Mural Project (BUMP) to add colour, vibrancy, and an element of safety to the downtown Calgary neighbourhood.
The murals have been painted on concrete barriers, dubbed “jersey barriers” and placed in strategic locations close to patios. Many portions of sidewalks around the city have been extended to allow for pandemic social distancing. The jersey barriers will deter or stop any car traffic from swerving into these extended areas.
“It’s a new territory for the city in supporting the businesses and the extra patio space they are looking to build out,” said Peter Oliver of the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association. “It’s also another opportunity for artists to get their work into new places and this time it’s on the streets,” added Oliver.
The Beltline Urban Mural Project, June 7, 2021
Another element of the initiative involves a collaboration with Calgary Parks to install two new container parklets, located in the Beltline and Kensington. The parklets are painted by local artists and create new spaces for people gather in a safe, distanced fashion.
“It’s really a win-win,” said Billie Rae Busby, a local artist who was able to paint her first public mural on a jersey barrier. “It’s great for local artists; we all get to experience new art around the city, it’s awesome to have public art really innovative and on some structures that people will really notice,” she added.
“It’s exciting, a lot of people don’t go into art galleries, but now when they’re going for a walk and they’re shopping in different places, they can check it out and acknowledge they’re viewing the work of a local artist.”
Beltline Urban Mural Project, June 11, 2021
The new murals can be found in eight different business improvement areas across the city including Inglewood, the Beltline, Victoria Park and Bridgeland.
The murals are slated to remain in place until patio season comes to a close.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.