An east-meets-west mural project between Burnaby and one of its sister cities in China could come to fruition over the next few years.
The city has proposed an international mural project with Guiyang, which is in the Guizhou province in southwest China.
“The international project will be a jointly designed and produced pair of art murals located in Burnaby and Guiyang that will create a single, larger image when put together focusing on the themes of people and culture, environment and artistic expression,” Leon Gous, engineering director, stated in his report.
The proposal includes an art exchange between artists from the two cities happening in 2014 and 2015.
“Currently, the city is looking at a number of possible locations in Burnaby that are high visibility, have open and safe access for painting, and that have experienced graffiti issues in the past,” Gous stated. “Several potential locations exist along the Expo SkyTrain line, central Burnaby, North Road Millenium SkyTrain lines, and the Edmonds Street area.”
According to the report, the mural’s theme is east meets west, and will feature an illustration of a “human living space in harmonious balance with the natural environment.”
“The design will amalgamate the image that shows our commonality and embraces our differences,” Gous stated. “The murals will embrace and honour our distinctive cultures and that of our indigenous people.”
The theme’s motivation is inspired by the global community and the environment.
The anti-graffiti mural program may provide up to $3,500, and additional funding may be required from other sources, according to Gous.
The anti-graffity strategy includes paying for murals across the city, and in 2013, five murals were installed throughout the city.
In September, a vandal defaced one of the five new murals installed at 7033 Antrim Ave. Allegedly, the same vandal also defaced the veteran’s mural. Both murals were protected by sealant and artist Todd Polich restored both at his own cost.
Burnaby has been encouraging B.C. Hydro to establish a more proactive anti-graffiti program. TransLink has hired a public and community relations officer this past year, who has a history of investigating graffiti on buses, trains and infrastructure.
